KNYSNA NEWS - The 2024 Oakhill Matric Visual Arts Exhibition opened to well over a hundred guests at a spectacular setting, at The Waterfront Knysna Quays on Friday evening, 8 November.

The gallery space created the most magnificent backdrop and ambience for the artworks, which visitors experienced in true style.

In the words of Oakhill College art teacher, Colette Rügheimer in her welcoming speech, it was a privilege to host the exhibition at this superb venue; both in honour and in celebration of the truly remarkable accomplishments of the talented Grade 12 artists: Erin Fietze, Emma Godfrey, Mia Guccio, Tahlia Stead, Sophie Swire-Thompson and Anjuli Taplin.

The national Independent Examination Board (IEB) examination theme for this year's matric students was "Truth and Fiction". The very nature of the theme encouraged the students to "explore the intricate relationship between perception, authenticity, and expression", said Rügheimer.

'Challenged conventional notions'

"Through their work, this group of enquiring and intelligent young artists have challenged conventional notions of truth and fiction, suggesting that truth is not a fixed or objective entity but rather a subjective interpretation influenced by personal perspective and cultural context.''

Tahlia Stead and her parents James Stead and Marion Witte. Tahlia received the Pierre Dingley Award

In light of the theme, Rügheimer shared some fictions and truths about the art-making process:

Sophie Swire-Thompson and her mother Jessica Swire-Thompson.

Fiction 1: "Making art comes naturally and these students are simply gifted."

Rügheimer believes that the truth is that this exhibition is not the product of ease and raw talent, it is the end product of struggle and hard work, of years of the students developing their skills and ideas through practice, determination, and persistence.

Emma Godfrey with her sculpted dress.

Fiction 2: "Making art is automatically therapeutic.''

"We wish this was true,'' said Rügheimer. In reality, however, she described how the creative process can be extremely challenging and frustrating.

'Journey of exploration'

The journals that accompany each student's exhibition of work, according to Rügheimer, describe "the creative process - the journey of exploration, investigation and discovery". "It is here that the students have navigated between inner vision and external reality and channelled their personal insights into the tangible expressions you see displayed".

Mia Guccio and her parents Anel and Tony Guccio.

Rügheimer elaborated: "The student's varied forms of art are not just imitations or reflections of the world but are expressions of their perceptions of truth and fiction and they offer a nuanced understanding of our shared humanity."

'Exceptional quality'

One of the comments by the examiner who marked their work last week, was that the exhibition is "one of exceptional quality with a visible line of development of the artists from inception to conclusion, evidenced in their visual journals describing their process''.

Erin Fietze in front of her art pieces.

In keeping with the annual tradition at the opening evening, at the request of Oakhill, the examiner selects one work that is their favourite. Congratulations to Tahlia Stead, as the well-deserved recipient of the Pierre Dingley Award for her winning drawing piece.

'Profound response to theme'

In motivating the choice, the examiner remarked that not only is this drawing "a profound response to the theme, with an exceptionally well-written rationale, but appealed on so many levels; visual, conceptual, personal, emotional; and that the drawing is a wonderful balance of the real and the expressive''.

Oakhill 2024 matric art students and teacher Colette Rügheimer.

Guests at the opening, and since, have enthusiastically shared how impressed they are by the exhibition and even how emotionally evocative the artworks are.

The "Truth and Fiction'' Oakhill Matric Art Exhibition is open for daily viewing from 09:00-16:00, at The Waterfront Knysna Quays, until Saturday 16 November.

‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’