"Ipopeng Project: UNDER COVER"
2000-04-01 until 2000-04-09
BAT Centre
Durban, , ZA South Africa

Opening on 1 April in association with the Ipopeng Project is UNDER COVER featuring works by Ioannis Lassithiotakis (Greece), Maureen Bell (United Kingdom), Lambert Moraloki (South Africa), Luis Arias Vera (Peru), Anthony Makou, Rudolph Tshie & Brigitte Hertell (South Africa), Ivan Sagito (Indonesia), Voti Thebe (Zimbabwe) and Moses Mohoroe.

The current tension and diverging statements in art challenges us to re-evaluate our personal criteria in the composing of visual concepts. Each artist's individual work can only affirm itself in the wider context of concurrent developments. Accordingly, we initiated a project where the various alternating expressions are tied into a common voice.

The motif in employing the umbrella as concept for the work and installation lies in the diverse connotations embedded in its function and form:

Historically the umbrella has been a tool for protection and cover but in African, Oriental and Latin-American countries, it has also been used as an important ceremonial object which conveys authority and status. This reflection evokes multiple aspects about our physical and mental condition: cross-migration; the shielding of heritage and environment; cultural and sociopolitical settlements; trans-orientation; the revealing of past and present in the light of future expectations; a nouveau depart...On a more structural level the versatile shape of the umbrella is suggestive of the global spheres, kites, domes, trees, shelters, arches, obelisks. The obvious material function of the umbrella is re-interpreted and transformed to communicate a spiritual, intellectual and psychological message of art as dialogue and as cross-cultural interaction.

The umbrella may cover several references to connected meanings, events, experiences, but the correlation of the whole group of umbrellas (in the final installation) generates the actual inter-relation of fragmented realities. The title of the project captures the described image and concept. Furthermore, it refers to the concealed collaboration of the different artists: all project participants work on a common theme but their work and statement remains obscure until the juxtaposition of all art works (editions) in a continuous collective revelation process.

- artslink

Related Links:

Maureen Bell

Luis Arias Vera

Ivan Sagito

Voti Thebe

Indepth Arts Resources for South Africa

Other Important Exhibitions in South Africa