Back to the future: Masked baby monsters

I had some fun and games during the holidays with a series done with mixed media (ink, charcoal, pastel and acrylic paint) The series of drawings was exhibited in their original state (before the mask) at my first ever solo exhibition at the Joao Ferreira gallery back in 2004. Titled: Siembamba, Let’s play pretend. Below is the original invitation:

I decided to add some masks to the original drawings, and for me in a way the added masks turned the babies into monsters!

My obsession with masks resurfaced in 2020, because suddenly masks became a necessity. I used to be fascinated by rituals during my student days and masks were important in rituals too. Traditionally masks were used during ceremonies across the globe. And now more than ever they became a part of our lives. Although I must admit that I prefer cultural masks instead of the ones currently worn by everyone. (do you also find it surreal going to the shops and seeing everyone wearing masks?)

Masked baby monster 1 (2004-2020) Mixed media 52.5 x 37.5 cm

So I have started a whole series around the idea of cultural masks – which links to my fascination with relationships, anthropology, fairy tales …. but I will tell you more once I have worked on a new artist statement…

Masked baby monster 2 (2004-2020) Mixed media 52.5 x 37.5 cm

Masked baby monster 3 (2004-2020) Mixed media 52.5 x 37.5 cm

In my next post I will continue with my fascination with masks and show and tell you more.

Until then….have a good week. xxx

Adventures in BaardskeerdersBos ….

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Venue:

This beautiful renovated approx 1930’s farmhouse was where our exhibition took place.

Space:

artist Liz van den Berg in action during the Art-route

view inside 1

view inside 2

Juhlene Moller captured these moments

Another highlight on the farm was the Fynbos exhibition by James Kriel

Fynbos view 1

Fynbos view 2

Fynbos view 3

Fynbos view4

Fynbos uitstalling

Fynbos view5

Early on Sunday Morning we took a hike to view the Cascades on the farm:

view of Kloof

cascades 1

resting along the way

The rondawel at Tierfontein

A Misfit and a Mermaid

Jabberwocky

Art portfolio- my work

“And, as in uffish thought he stood,

The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

And burbled as it came!”

-Lewis Carroll, 1872

from the poem titled Jabberwocky, which is currently my son Stephan’s favourite poem, especially when his dad reads it to him with a Scotttish accent.

He sees monsters everywhere detail

Initially my eldest son, inspired this work, because he used to see ‘monsters’ everywhere. He is quite tall for his age, thus looks older than he is, and he doesn’t like sleeping. He is also blessed with a vivid imagination.

I am constantly amazed how two children from the same household can be so different from each other. Where Etienne is sensitive and fearful, his brother Stephan fierce and a handful. I say this in the most loving and respectful way. I love them both in every-way.

He sees monsters everywhere 2016

He stopped seeing monsters…

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He sees monsters everywhere (cotton thread, fabric and rubber)

I am sharing this image of a work I did a while ago, with you again, because the boy who inspired this piece is celebrating his birthday tomorrow.

Since he was little he used to see ‘monsters’. The first time we pretend to catch these monsters with black bags, and it worked for a while.

When he started to see monsters again, the black bags didn’t do the trick so we moved his bed to his brother’s room. That helped for a while.

As an artist I love the idea of monsters, but as a mother these manifestations from my child made me feel worried.

“There were two kinds of monsters, the kind that hunted the streets and the kind that lived in your head. She could fight the first, but the second was more dangerous. It was always, always, always a step ahead.” – Victoria Schwab

After that I asked him to draw the monster that he saw, and used the drawing he made as inspiration for this piece.

Who am I to tell him that monsters are not real? That it might just be a trick his imagination play on him? Or that he should stop using excuses not to go to sleep? Was his monsters real to him or just a form of manipulation.

How could I teach him that he doesn’t need to fear?

“Oh, monsters are scared,” said Lettie. “That’s why they’re monsters.” – Neil Gaiman, The Ocean at the End of the Lane

That the real monsters out there can actually be disguised as real people, or that the real world is where the monsters are..

or that even monsters can be beautiful….

or…

“We make our own monsters, then fear them for what they show us about ourselves.” – Mike Cary from “The Unwritten , Vol 1

With all this said, I am happy/relieved and a little sad to say that he doesn’t see monsters anymore. Our boy is growing up.

“The monsters of our childhood do not fade away, neither are they ever wholly monstrous” – John le Carre

creation myth…

Art portfolio- my work

He sees monsters everywhere

Dear friends,

“…a time before the beginning of time, when this universe was nothing but “the Self”. That Self looked around and saw that there was nothing but itself, whereupon its first shout was. “It is I!” And when that Self had thus become aware of itself as an I, an ego, it was afraid. But it reasoned, thinking, “Since there is no one here but myself, what is there to fear?” Whereupon the fear departed.”

I absolutely adore creation myths, especially this Indian creation myth as quoted in the book written by Joseph Campbell titled: “Myths to live by”

Image: “He sees monsters everywhere” embroidery on rubber. This work is one of 7 pieces included in the Rijswijk Textile Biennale, which opens on the 16th of May 2017.