BASA AWARDS COMMISSIONED ARTIST 2022:
A Mother’s Window:
During Covid-19 a fellow South African artist and friend went through a terrifying experience which resulted in the death of his mother. In 2021 on Instagram, he posted an image of his mother’s window. He had gone home to collect things with his sister. The image looked out into the light from a visually dark space. This image, and his story, has inspired a series of artworks called ‘A Mother’s Window’. A series that reflects on a global place of darkness and the importance of looking out, into light, for hope and growth.
This series speaks to the power of memory, roots, place, and nurture that can help us find the light in times of trouble. Through our mother’s window is a reminder that finding
the light often means going back to our roots and to what we have already learnt and with that, finding the strength to ‘go outside’ to where the light is. We all have stories and people of strength that have offered us guidance and ‘mothered’ us so that we can step into the unknown, take chances and light up our world. This body of work is a reminder of that, and a reminder that without the darkness we cannot experience the light.
Papercutting is a process of extraction: starting with one piece of black paper the image is revealed through cutting away. Light is what allows the image to be seen. In the same way we all need to cut away elements of our lives that are no longer needed and for the light to shine through, while remembering and growing from the seed within. In January I asked people on social media to share with me photographs of their ‘Mother’s Window’ – windows in the homes of the people who had given them strength over the years and shared wisdom. I collected a variety of photographs of windows that will be used in this series.
This series of works will be exclusive to the BASA awards and offer 20 unique artworks relating to the theme of A Mother’s Window: Finding the Light.
2022 SOLO EXHIBITION AT CANDICE BERMAN GALLERY
Finding the Pattern:
Initially the search for the pattern in my artworks was a technical response to the limitations of the medium papercutting. Papercutting is a process of extraction; there is nothing added to the paper but instead the imagery is made visible through the removal of the paper, in a similar way to a sculptor working in wood or stone. The limitation is that all elements of the imagery must be connected, or the pieces will fallout. This limitation led to using pattern as that connection. The patterns also serve as the strength of the paper –lessening the fragility of the work.
The pattern is technically needed; it is not simply decorative but essential to the artwork.
This began a thought process relating to our everyday routines, our patterns as people. Our choices. If the pattern holds us together –what patterns do we choose? Patterns, however, decoratively striking, are mundane and repetitive –not necessarily our focal point or even an area of interest.
During 2020 the rhythm of my life, and most people’s lives, was challenges and disrupted. My creative company had to close down and with it the loss of daily interactions with people working or visiting the workshop. Those faces are seen throughout this exhibition and are portraits of memory, of change, of disruption.
With that disruption has come a huge shift in my focal point and an acknowledgement of the patterns I need to find –the rhythms I need to create. It has also changed my focal point. The repetition, the connections, the threads that weave the story together –are so important, without them we have nothing.
Finding the Pattern is about finding the strongest ways to stay connected, to make the bigger picture possible….to not fall apart.
-Mariapaola Mcgurk, 2022
2023 SOLO EXHIBITION: ‘Villaggio nei miei Sogni’ (The Village in my Dreams)
More information coming soon!
- 2022 GROUP EXHIBITION
TACS Print Portfolio Exchange
https://art.co.za/exhibitions/tacs-print-portfolio-exchange-at-the-arts-company
A portfolio exchange is a collection of prints, usually addressing a common theme, with consistent size restrictions and edition size. The portfolio exchange is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for participants to have their work displayed in public and private collections all over the world. The Arts Company Soweto (TACS) invited 25 artists to participate in the call for such an exchange portfolio. The portfolio carries uniqueness, it focused on non-printmakers and few printmakers, to begin with. Therefore, allowing a shared value among the artist for an opportunity to share/exchange with each other.
Participating Artists:
Zandile Tshabalala, Zanele Mashinini, Vivian Kohler, Thokozani Madonsela, Baba Tjeko, Themba Khumalo, Thabo Motseki, Thabang Lehobye, Tebogo Moerane, Sindiso Zwane, Senzo Shabangu, Phumzile Buthelezi, Philip Mabote, Paul Molete, Thea Castro, Nkhensani Rihlampfu, Molefe Thwala, Mbali Tshabalala, Mariapaola McGurk, Lloyd Maluleke, Lerato Motau, Lehlohonolo Dhlamini, Lehlogonolo Mashaba, Jan Tshikuthula and Hiten Bawa