The weather, Mona Lisa and other musings

Art portfolio- my work

Its a beautiful rainy day here at the foot of the Sleeping Beauty mountain range in the Hessequa area. Rainy days are perfect for reading. I am currently reading this book:

I feel as if I should warn you: it is a depressing read (well so far anyway, don’t know how its going to end), but I found the following story about the Mona Lisa in it which I would like to share with you today:

“Vincenzo Peruggia had been hired by the Louvre to construct protective glass cases for a number of paintings. On the evening of August 20, 1911 he and two accomplices hid inside a closet used for storing student art supplies. When they emerged the next morning, Peruggia went straight to the Mona Lisa, removed it from the wall, and carried it out the museum’s main entrance.

At the time, the Mona Lisa wasn’t widely known outside the art world’ it was not the most famous work in its gallery, much less the museum. It took twenty-four hours before the painting’s absence was even noticed. But once it drew the attention of the burgeoning print media, the theft became international intrigue, and the Mona Lisa, now referred to as a masterpiece, became the most famous paining in the world. When the Louvre reopened, after a week of being closed for investigation, queues formed outside for the fist time in the museum’s history. In the two years between the painting’s theft and return, more people came to see the bare wall on which it had hung – “the mark of shame’ – than had ever come to see the paining.

Franz Kafka paid the empty wall a visit within a month of the painting’s disappearance, the absence now among his collection of ‘invisible curiosities’ – sights, events, people, and works of art that he had missed seeing. The following year, perhaps inspired by the experience, Kafka wrote his masterpiece, The Metamorphosis’, in which a man awakes one morning as an insect, his perspective radically altered, and his body – his first home – no longer hospitable.

The fame of the painting has only increased with time – or perhaps it’s more correct to say that the fame of the fame of the painting has increased. People want to see the Mona Lisa because other people want to see the Mona Lisa. The Louvre estimates that 80 percent of those who visit the museum come to see only that one work. It now resides behind 1.52 -inch-thick bulletproof glass. While the purpose of the glass is to protect the world’s most valuable paining , the effect is to enhance our sense of its value and vulnerability. When we look at the Mona Lisa, the bulletproof glass also serves as a corrective lens.”

This story makes me sad. Not because the Mona Lisa was stolen, or that she became famous because she was stolen, It makes me sad because…you know: humans! How does this story make you feel?

Anyway while on the subject of stories, art and books….I was delighted to find out from a fellow artist (who also send me the images. Thanks Barbara!) that an essay was written about my work for a book published in conjunction with the Also Know As Africa Art Fair! (AKAA Art Fair in Paris 2022)

I feel honored and am grateful for the validation.

I just wish that the gallery who represented me in Paris at the fair, bought a copy of this book back to S.A for me, but apparently they were promised 3 copies, and are following up on this.

So on the subject of “Quality of Movement.s” …chin up and keep on moving! Wishing you a wonderful day.

The Art of Love – installation images

Art portfolio- my work

The Art of Love exhibition runs until the end of March, unfortunately I could not attend the opening, and if you are unable like myself to visit the gallery, herewith some installation images courtesy of Stilbaai Galery:

Feel free to contact myself or the gallery at hello@stilbaaigalery.co.za to receive a digital catalogue.

Rugby- Installation images

Art portfolio- my work

“Rugby” a group exhibition, curated by Donavan Mynhardt, now showing at Rust-n-Vrede Gallery concludes 4 March 2023, and if you are like me unable to attend the physical exhibition, herewith some installation images courtesy of the gallery and Wild Mushroom Productions:

A big thank you to everyone who attended the opening and exhibition so far.

I am delighted to inform you that my work titled: “The people gathered to watch as the bulls play the final test” has been sold, but feel free to contact the gallery to view the full catalogue: gallery@rust-en-vrede.com

The people gathered to watch as the bulls play the final test, Photographic print on board, thread and rubber, 2023 (SOLD)

Cape Town Trip

Art portfolio- my work

When I arrived in Cape Town on Friday the 17th I was greeted by a very friendly butler, named Lizo, at the Old Foundry Hotel, where I spent one evening.

Then on Friday Night (the actual reason for my trip to Cape Town) was to meet up with Michelle Paterson (Director of MContemporary gallery)

Michelle Paterson and myself

, Louise Rush (the manager of the gallery)

Here I am with Louise Rush

as well as a couple of their collectors, especially Paul and Dimi Korkidas, from Australia, for dinner at Thali – a contemporary Indian Restaurant in Cape Town.

Paul, Dimi and me

It was truly a wonderful experience. One I will never forget.

The next day I spent 5 hours at the Cape Town Art Fair

Apart form the sensory overload, it was great to bump into fellow artists like Elske Henderson:

It was also insightful to do the walkabout with curator Sean O’ Toole who talked about his curated solo booths project at the fair.

It was interesting to hear him commenting that artists-‘friends’ for eg: Jeanne Gaigher who was accepted and despite their age, Gerhard Marx as well as Joachim Schonfeld were accepted- as if age should matter. And he also mentioned the ‘art world politics’ where Marx left Goodman for Everard read, etc…..So afterwards I cornered Sean and asked him if my work was not accepted because I am too old, or not his friend, or not with the ‘right’ gallery or is it my work that was not strong enough?

I probaby caught him by surprise, but as a critic I feel that he should be able to handle a straight forward question. His answer was that he was not responsible for the selection, but that the “Art Fair People” chose the 10 galleries that he had to work with. mmmm…..

Anyway,

Up next was a visit with some family members. Here I am with my belated mom’s eldest brother and his wife (Fanie & Annatjie Kruis), whom I haven’t seen since my mom’s passing more than 20 years ago.

As well as my cousin Stephan Kruis:

Then on Sunday I spent some time with an old school friend (Jeanine Kotze) and her family in Stellenbosch. They took me around town and we had a wonderful time catching up.

Unfortunately I left Stellenbosch the next day with a tummy bug, but are on my way to recovery. Looking forward to get back into the studio.

xxxx

The art of love- a group exhibition

Art portfolio- my work
What is so happy about the ever after 122 x 85 cm Photographic print, rubber, thread and board 2022 Hannalie Taute

“Three are few things in life more challenging than being married. The intimacy tend to stir up and expose our most poisonous inner energies.

If we can learn to love here, we can love anywhere.

The question is can we love each other unconditionally, or is our love contingent upon the other person acting exactly as we need them to? It’s easy to ‘love’ somebody when they do what you want them to do, exactly how you want them to do it. But how do you behave when they step outside of your picture? How do you treat them when they hurt you? Those are the times that determine whether or not you actually love somebody.” – quote from the book Will

You are invited to a group show hosted by Stilbaai Galery:

” Love is hard. It takes enormous courage to open a wounded heart over and over again to the possibility of love’s bliss. Love demands bravery. a willingness to risk it all. But bravery does not mean the absence of fear. Bravery is learning to continue forward even when you’re terrified. ” – Will

For more info about this work or the upcoming exhibition please contact Nadine/Ingrid at: hello@stilbaaigalery.co.za

Wishing you a month filled with love, light and laughter. x