DERIVED from their inspiration of the art of Dorothy Lannone, Durban artists Swany and Bernice Stott explore gender and soul and give form to archaic ideas derived from the collective “fantasies, dreams, deliria and delusions”. Through their joint exhibition at artSPACE Gallery, the artists bring you Anima-Animus which runs until Saturday.
Swany tells Tonight about his fascination with this subject: “As an artist, my focus and work is generally about gender issues. This proved to be something which Bernice and I had in common and was what initiated our collaboration in this exhibition. We are conversing about, and exploring, Jungian archetypes, Jung being the psychiatrist and psychotherapist who founded analytical psychology.
“These archetypes are patterns of experience and behaviour that are common to all humans.
“Our intent was to present an exhibition which presents dialogue between male and female and feminine and masculine.
“But importantly, to acknowledge that we all share both traits, and that is okay. In fact, as Jung posits, it is really important to embrace both in order to become whole, complete and healthy human beings.”
With such a unique topic forming the basis of the artists’ work, I ask Swany if this is something art-goers will be interested in.
“This exhibition is certainly different from anything they will have experienced before. When I conceptualise a theme for work for an exhibition, I always keep in mind that my ultimate aims are to entertain and inform the visitors/audience within the gallery space.
“How have I done that (as has Bernice)? I have steered away from the illustrative of the obvious: I use a specific colour palette, I use representative symbols that I have created. I document a performance and the significant gestures I have created to represent the archetypes.
“I also juxtapose embroidery and stitching with print and inscription. The other important thing that I am hoping the art-goer will take note of is that this is a conversation Bernice and I are having and which we are inviting them to join in, a conversation between male and female, masculine and feminine,” he adds.
On the artSPACE Gallery website, it states that Swany has exhibited in various galleries in Durban and his work often deals with gender issues whereby he uses embroidery and stitching to deconstruct certain societal perceptions.
On his partner’s work, Swany says: “Bernice Stott is a very accomplished artist and extremely knowledgeable, holding a number of degrees. This translates into technically strong and multi-dimensional work created with a solid foundation of reference and research. This exhibition is the result of seven months of collaboration where we would meet and brainstorm, go away and work on pieces and then meet again and discuss our separate progress.
“We created our individual works but collaborated on a single piece around which the exhibition focuses. It is called Beginning of Time: Grand Star Forming and is a tower or cone-like sculpture representing the shared origins and future of humanity, male and female, that we are all of stardust.”
• The exhibition runs at artSPACE Gallery until Saturday. For information, call 031 3120 793