Who Am I ?
Transgressions
by Gordon Clark and Leon Botha January 2010
“Man stands at the centre, as between the realms of God and Hell, as between love and anger; whichever spirit it makes its own, to that spirit it belongs�
THEME The key theme which runs through Who Am I?-Transgressions is mortality and immortality and how we live our lives within the time we have, which, Leon argues, is in any event, transient for all of us. How shall we be judged? How shall we judge? The artists ask us to question old perceptions and old values and examine ourselves through a new lens in a landscape part underworld, part world. The images force many questions to the forefront. Whilst there is obvious reference to Leon’s condition, like a mythological giant, the withered cameo challenges everything in our makeup… As we look, we laugh, we cry, we ponder -we ask: who am I? What are my fears and phobias? How have they determined my values, my life, our lives? What do we consider to be good/ evil/ acceptable/ unacceptable? The two artists empathetically dare, and dare us to transgress and disrupt the order and comfort of life and explore the idea of what it means to be human. And examine the most important question - the condition of mankind? What is normal…and what is not? What does dark mean? How near am I to it and from it? Beyond the obvious, the images take us to a poetic space where we are all searching for the same thing and we realize; questions posed are not just for Leon but for each one of us. “I want to show reality, not hide it “ says Clark “and Leon is the perfect metaphor for doing this. He shows up both the fragility, the light and the dark, of which we are all part, and of which, we are all made” TECHNIQUE Images and form co-join to form a hard poetry hard to digest, even harder to ignore. With a combination of flair and technique, Leon and Gordon take us deep into a journey of self discovery. Archetypal and mythological symbols intersperse the wastelands. Adam flirts with Eve. Christian and Pagan images tally with the Roman Empire. Time and space is transcended and the paradox of the subject’s accelerated aging encapsulates the ‘who am I?’ of the life and death paradigm. Subtle statement is entwined with pictorially rich visual technique, to allow subject matter to confront our views and prejudices. Everyday settings are consciously combined with exaggerated theatrical costume. Abnormality and normality are netted, side by side marrying man and nature, ourselves and the other. The images are sensitively crafted, unveiling pathos and courage:
ARTISTS
Leon Botha is one of the longest living persons with Progeria, Greek for rapid aging. Born in Cape Town, he is 24 years old, an artist and musician. Exhibitions include: Liquid Swords (2007) and Slices of Lemon (2009), Third Eye Gallery, Cape Town. Gordon Clark is a renowned photographer and commercial director, in both the USA and SA He exhibited at the Worldwide Joint Exhibition, Directors Guild of America faux9 in 2000 and faux10 in 2001 as well as the Museum of Tolerance Book Launch, Los Angeles, in 2002 where he launched his book Transitions, (forward by Oprah Winfrey). His most recent solo exhibitions at the Odes Gallery in Cape Town have included Indigenous (2007) and What is Familiar? (2009). This body of work is a collaborative and artistic adventure for two artists, two strangers, two very different people, who, in the meeting of spirit, beyond the parody of flesh, discover a commonality . Through them we learn not to lament Leon’s life and journey, but to celebrate them All these images are shot on medium format and 4x5 film A video will also be available upon request (Introspective interview with Leon Botha) Contact Details: LiZa Dyason Telephone Number: +27 76 550 1422 Email: liza@ kingsley.co.za Gordon Clark Telephone Number: +27 73 457 8616 Email: gordon@ velocityfilms.com