Yellow Submarine at Bellhaus

We all live in a yellow submarine. What does that even mean? For curator Marcii Magson of BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie, this was the perfect title for the exhibition because her daughter has recently taught her to look at colour again. “The colour yellow comes from my daughter opening my eyes to colour. I usually look in shape, form, texture, and lines. All colours for Freya are yellow, so I started seeing all colours as yellow as well. “If you are an artist you work in colour and Freya refers to all colours as yellow, I thought it would be a perfect theme.”

Artist: Tina Basson

Thinking about yellow one does ponder about the meaning of the colour. Is it the cheerful daffodil, the harbinger of spring? Is it our life-giving sun, a ball of warmth, and light? Or is it the colour of illness? Sunny or sticky, yellow’s meaning pervades our lives. It is invigorating, it stimulates nerves, glands and brain, making us more alert and energised. Yellow boosts our memory and encourages communication. It is a colour that promotes activity and interaction.

Artist: Chris Botha

When pondering about a submarine, the colour yellow comes to mind. A confined, tight space even claustrophobic, but all it actually is, is a boat that floats inside the ocean. Curator Marcii analyses a submarine as the visual interpretation of the subconscious. “Everything that we apply above ground comes from a deep-rooted inside and to express it we must go underground.” The submarine only features underground. So very far beyond what the yellow submarine means to Beatles lovers. “I thought of a full circle, so if the sunset is the yellow half circle the submarine is the other half circle below the ground”, Marcii concludes.

Artist: Heidi Louw

BELLHAUS Atelier & Galerie presents nine artists in a group exhibition for the first time, giving art enthusiasts the opportunity to view their artworks in unseen sizes and shapes. “We aim to attract Christmas shoppers and collectors for this exhibition as we will be offering works affordable for everyone”, Andrea Behnsen of BELLHAUS explains. “This greatly contributes to the development and diversification of our local art buying public of course”, Marcii Magson of BELLHAUS adds.

While Marcii is the brainchild of the concept, she also guided artists to make up their own story about YELLOW SUBMARINE challenging them to move away from the literal translation. Showing Illustrations, Sculptures, Prints and Photography, a first for the Gallery, a wide array of mediums will be showcased at BELLHAUS from November 10th – December 10th, 2022.

Artist: Marianne Chapman

Yellow Submarine will be BELLHAUS’s first large group exhibition featuring works by Tina Basson, Hentie Burger, Chris Botha, Marianne Chapman, Trudi Dicks, Kudzanai Katerere, Heidi Louw, Elisia Nghidishange, and Dewald Veldsman. The gallery will be transformed by covering four group installation walls with sensitive, abstract, and original interpretations of an otherworldly subject matter as well as a celebratory palette to feast on!

Text contributed by Bellhaus

Photography: Shawn van Eeden