Enhancing local art block by block

Gallery

KNYSNA NEWS - It might seem difficult to fathom but there's much more one can do with a small square of wood than you might think.

Anyone purposefully dragging their feet around the Old Gaol on the last day of last month for the Knysna Art Society's hosting of unobstructed, unlocked and Unblocked 2019 exhibition, would be confronted by the astounding wealth of ways in which more than eight-score artists managed to enhance the limited space made available to them.

This year's Unblocked inspired by Pantone's colour of the year, Living Coral, at the Knysna Art Gallery, which opened on Thursday 28 February, showcased works by over 80 local artists working in an array of different mediums and representing a large chunk of every ism ever mentioned in art. Some went three-dimensional while others utilised satire as a vehicle, but each piece as part of the collective helped to prove how deep the artistic talent runs on the Garden Route.

Early exposure
The committee also took things a step further this time around and gave two boys from Concordia High School wings and boy, did they fly.

Click here for a photo gallery.

Mihlali Sondlo and Siphamandla Mphathi who have been drawing all their lives got the opportunity through artist Veranique de la Fontaine of Knysna Education Trust who harnessed their talent and was beaming with excitement during the opening night. De Fontaine said, "The boys have tremendous talent and I want to pop with excitement. Thanks to everyone who has given the boys positive feedback."

Paintings by the two 15-year-old boys, who were caught between being thrilled and nervous, were sold on the opening night.

A total of 12 blocks for the exhibition came from Knysna Education Trust and some pieces were done by five-year-olds of the trust's Learning Tree school in Khayalethu.

Jannie Uitlander's It's All Down the Drain From Here.

'Promise to my mother'
Talking to Knysna-Plett Herald through his piece titled Isithembiso ("promise"), Sondlo said, "This is a promise to my mother who has been my rock and biggest fan, a promise to always be good to her, do good and always do my best."

Mphathi said his piece titled Umthandazo ("prayer") was inspired by the power of prayer and its ability to make a way where there is none. "Prayer has seen me through dark places and today my only prayer was for the piece to be sold and within minutes it was."

Some of the works on display that drew in the patrons were Falling by artist Daya, Read Between the Lines by Gesina Human, Teddie on a Mission by Jane Treffry-Goatley, Place of Interest by Petra Bongratz and a pick-me-up piece by Hope Baker Brigg, titled Get Up and Do Something About It.

The exhibition runs until mid-April.

Umthandazo ("prayer") by Siphamandla Mphathi. Photos: Nwabisa Pondoyi