Association for Visual Arts

On Exhibition

• ‘Elsewhere or Apprentice’ by Clara van Or -

  ‘Elsewhere or Apprentice’ by Clara van Or

  A grandmother who left Cambodia in the 1950s out of love for a Frenchman, the voice of a seer unearths the bygone stories of two ancestors. Amidst the rustle of nature and the fragments unveiled from ancient Persian and Egyptian legacies, all is whispering, bearing witness to a fleeting era, its echoes etched in the very sinews of existence. Temporal and spatial confines dissolve, unfurling as a constellation of clues waiting to be embraced.
  
  At the crossroads of documentary, experimental, and dreamlike fiction, Elsewhere or Apprentice retraces a personal odyssey along maternal threads of heritage and dives into the meanders of collective memory.
  
  The video becomes a medium of exploration where the artist shapes the body into a guide, venturing into the invisible, and allowing memories to seep in and vibrate. Through art objects, archives, and voices of those who wove the tapestry of transmission, the apprentice seeks to resonate with the mysteries of History. Is there an elsewhere, or far-off horizon anymore? All appears to swish in the air. Spirits lurking within the stone can be heard. Despite all that has been silenced, buried by the confines of ages, the body responds. By movement, an imprint resurfaces, inscribed deep within the cells, of what, even forgotten, still lingers.
  
  Through its lens, a poetic vista emerges, capturing the delicate choreography of generational bequests.
  
  The exhibitions are on display from 28 November 2024 to 9 January 2025.
  
  

• ‘Time As Method’ by Catriona Towriss -

  ‘Time As Method’ by Catriona Towriss

  In Time As Method, Catriona Towriss presents a body of artwork that explores ritual and care as ways of being with land and trees. Working with deep listening, reflection, and compassion, her work emerges from her desire to repair lost and damaged connections to the life-forms that surround her.
  
  The raw natural materials used in her work draw her into the deep rhythms of earth-time, as the foraging for seed pods and materials depends on seasonal passages of water through the soil and the blossoming of trees. Journeying into the forests and mountains, the artist found in Eucalyptus a place to rest her stories. In them, she finds companions that mirror her migration story and rootedness in new soils. Inspired by their abundant offerings, she sees their seeds as future books, offering her a safe and generative space to contemplate the precarity of tomorrow. In her consideration of future times, the artist has been working with the poem ‘The Broken’ by Ben Okri. The stanzas of this poem, a plea for humanity to turn to love to save our future, appear in many of the titles of the artworks and on the walls of the exhibition.
  
  
  
  
  

• ‘Fabrics of Society’ group exhibition featuring Joël Mamboka Nkumu and three others. Curated by Nani Mntonintshi -

  ‘Fabrics of Society’ group exhibition featuring Joël Mamboka Nkumu and three others. Curated by Nani Mntonintshi

  Within the intricate tapestry of life, a rich network of relationships, values, and norms weaves together the essence of social cohesion. This interconnectedness enables individuals to unite around common goals, fostering stability and resilience, and serving as a pathway through which the interplay of social relationships, cultural norms, and institutional frameworks unfolds. Just as a crafted fabric is composed of diverse threads, society thrives on the contributions of its diverse members, each interaction enhancing the overall strength of the community. A robust societal fabric, difficult to unravel, reflects the unity that sustains it. In recognising the beauty of our shared humanity, we can appreciate the delicate yet powerful connections that bind us.
  
  Fabrics of Society invites viewers to explore the intricate connections that define our communities through a diverse array of artistic expressions. Featuring a selection of paintings, installations, and fabric-based works, the exhibition reflects on themes of social cohesion, identity, and cultural heritage. Each piece serves as a unique thread in the broader tapestry of society, highlighting the contributions of various artists who interpret and challenge the norms that shape our lives.
  
  
  
  

• 'DID YOU HEAR THAT SOUND?' by Boytchie -

  'DID YOU HEAR THAT SOUND?' by Boytchie

  DID YOU HEAR THAT SOUND? Is Boytchie’s fourth solo presentation showcasing his growing body of work KASH OUT.
  
  KASH OUT is a visual journey into a world of stark contrasts, where the hungry and greedy devour each other to survive. Each artwork from the series reflects on the relentless pursuit of profit at the expense of humanity. Operating on three different levels, KASH OUT is, firstly, an attempt to capture the feelings of desperation and anxiety of hustle culture; secondly, a comment on the hyper-individualism and greed that permeates our society; and thirdly, a question about our complacency to witness capitalistic violence, both digitally and in real life.
  
  In the world of KASH OUT, everyone is greedy, fearful, and anxious. Boytchie's paintings and sculptures are filled with twisted faces and angular shapes that serve as a reflection of how our contemporary world cages us into the system of capitalism. Boytchie's subjects are in an eternal battle for “the bag” and will stop at nothing to acquire what they desire.
  
  KASH OUT aims to capture the nonstop greed, hyper-individualism, egomania and mercilessness of the grind. There is no promise of a hopeful future or any utopian change. Through mark-making, saturated colours, and tragically violent iconography, Boytchie’s speaks to how we can be bombarded with violence, death, and suffering to the point of near dissociation.