“Once upon a time”….I received a lovely monster-like toy as a gift from a friend. One day the children and myself decided to use it’s hands for our scarecrow. The rest of it’s “body” became a source of inspiration for this work:
“Genetically modified” embroidery on rubber and found objects, 2014
“This product may contain genetically modified ingredients”
I am starting to see the above words on a lot of products in the Supermarkets. It scares me, probably because I know so little about genetic modification. So I’ve started to read some articles on the internet, but that in itself is problematic, because some say “stay away, these products that contain genetically modified ingredients may cause cancer” etc. and others say there is no need to worry.
As a mother I worry about what my kids consume. A certain packet of chips also contain this warning on it’s label, but the problem is that at every kiddies party there are these chips, or even at the school tuck shop. So should I tell them to never eat it, or should I follow my mother’s advice of “everything in moderation is okay”?
While I’m still trying to figure this out I decided to pull the ‘monster’ over my head:
Will I change into some kind of monster when I consume enough genetically modified products?
If you know of any articles that might be worthwhile to read on this matter, please would you share it with me?
Summer is knocking on my door, but its not hot enough to go to the beach or swim everyday – yet. In the mean time a lot has happened and are happening. Here is a short round up of what’s up:
*My rubber dress is finished! Yay! a dream come true…thanks to some friends who helped my dream see daylight- here is a sneak preview:
now I only have to figure out when to wear it for the first time….
o and I made some goggles (still in progress) from an old tea-sieve and rubber:
just for fun!
*The awesome folks of the Jung Katz published an interview with me! You can read it here
The most difficult question to answer was the “What is your dream project”, since in retrospect I think the answer is that my dream project is the one I’m currently working on…but then again we talk about dreams and I wonder: What would be the best thing that could happen to an artist in his/her art career. The highest achievement? Would that be to be invited to a biennial?
*There was a second walk about at Nirox sculpture park on the 22nd due to the group exhibition Play currently on exhibition there..I hope it was a playful affair…unfortunately I havent received any photos of someone accepting my ‘dare’ so dont know if people wanted to interact with the work. The exhibition is running until the 30th of December 2014…I still dare you to go and play 😉
* a Mega Mash-up at the Alex Hamilton Art studio in Woodstock Cape Town opens today:
check out the fb event for some images of the works on display: here
*Excited that my work “(k)not so elegant” is featured in this months issue of the House and Leisure magazine courtesy of Yanni Vosloo:
During December 2 different group shows opens in the friendly city of Port Elizabeth.
*”End Sheet” opens on the 2nd of December at ArtEC.
Reading a book is by no means a linear retracing of its author’s intentions but rather an interpretative appropriation of the text, which produces a different text in the mind of each reader, the last page holds a revolutionary event: the constant dialogue between author and reader.
The words read interweave, wrap themselves in the feelings, the experiences and knowledge of the reader, a mesh of two worlds that forms and opens new imaginary spaces. Are there interfaces, overlays or points of the world of the reader with the world of the author, enabling the formation of a new reality?
More about this at a later stage!
*The group show: “Here be dragons” opens on the 10th of December at the Underculture Contemporary gallery in Port Elizabeth. I will tell you more about this at a later stage, but all I can say is that I’m very excited to have work included in this show, since Dragons have a huge presence in our house- my 2 boys adore those reptilian creatures….and yes, you’ve guessed it, we watch “how to train my dragon” over and over and over….
*meanwhile I am stitching away every possible moment I can due to preperations for my solo exhibition on the 10th of February 2015 at the Erdmann contemporary gallery in Cape Town!!
Please safe the date- hope to see you there.
So as you can guess, I dont have much time to read, but luckily a dear friend made me aware of some excellent documentaries, which I watch and listen to while I stitch. I especially enjoyed the Andy Warhol documentary and then this one:
“Remember to breathe” 2014 (74 x 51cm) Embroidery on rubber/inner tube
There are 13 pieces in different stages of progress hanging, lying and standing in my studio at the moment.
13! It’s a good number, but it gets a bit frustrating since it feels like nothing’s close to completion….or it takes forever to finish a piece.
To take breaks in-between stitching I started a Facebook page. Are you nuts you might ask, and rightly so since I do feel that all this social networking takes away valuable stitching time….and it does to a certain extent.
So why would one start a Facebook page since you are already on Twitter, Instagram , a Wix website and a blog.
Well that just it…I feel a bit all over the place. I lost my Wix website password…as well as the Saatchi website password. The Wix site feels a bit hard to maintain….would a Facebook page feel less so? I don’t know yet. I’ll carry on with this blog for thoughts, feelings, and some sort of diary I guess, as well as sharing what’s up exhibition wise….Instagram I’ll use for uploading photos. Twitter I use for quotes or random things I like to share. The Facebook page I started to see where I’ve been art related and where I am going. It helped putting things into perspective or so it feels. Maybe it’s an illusion. Time will tell…
Like it or don’t like it – or even spread the word…it’s up to you, but please know that it’s still a work in progress… while I figure out what’s the point of all this.
You are welcome to share your thoughts while I remember to breathe. x
hannalie taute 