The ‘Mute Opera’ Showcases At The Gallery

The Gallery at Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, is proud to present an exhibition by the renowned artist, Paul Boulitreau, titled ‘The Mute Opera’, showcasing from Sunday 1, May at 11h00 until Wednesday 25, May 2011. This exhibition will be opened by established South African artist and intellectual, Gordon Froud.  

‘The Mute Opera’ is derived from the Italian name ‘Opera’, which means ‘total work’ and the silence of the studio. A selection of new and older works – paintings, sculptures and graphic works, which were created in South Africa in the last five years, will be presented. 

This body of work meaningfully references the paradox between childhood memories and the cruelty or violence of everyday life. The viewer is confronted with different ways of interpreting the images: a playful, almost musical expression of colours and seemingly dancing and floating surrealistic creatures, or a violent, adult fantasy situation. The work represents the longing for a forgotten childhood that can never be revisited. This confrontation evokes a murmur that grows into a silent desperate shout. 

This exhibition is the first exhibition of a series of three that will travel to the galleries of the North West University in Potchefstroom and the University of Johannesburg. The subsequent shows will also include works by prominent artists who have worked in collaboration with Paul Boulitreau over the past five years in South Africa, and will be themed, ‘Roommates –The Mute Opera’.     

The sculptures of Michaella Janse van Vuuren explore the regions between Art and Science. The controversial new technology of 3-D printing or additive manufacturing proved the ideal tool to produce her digitally designed sculptures. Through her use of fascinating new technology, she exposes the endless possibilities of a new medium to the art world. Michaella raises questions regarding to the impact of these new technologies referring to mass customisation and automated algorithms.  

Literature meets contemporary art at Grande Provence in May, during the Franschhoek Literary Festival, taking place on 14 and 15 May. Poet and contemporary artist, Kai Lossgott will be launching his book, an intimate collection of poems, titled, ‘talking to the tree outside the window while I sleep’ during the festival, concurrent with his exhibition in the ‘Project Room’ at The Gallery. The book showcases a careful selection of three years’ work and is praised for its intimate evocation of the personal element in green politics.  

In a fragile yet powerful statement, Kai has made minute incisions, punctures and impressions into the tissue of plant leaves to form texts and images which are only visible against the light. Displayed in ‘lightboxes’ the perforations sparkle. One of his texts makes reference to ‘the inheritance of light’. Another reads, “for every branch in a tree / there are a million ungrown branches”, hinting at the potential rediscovery of missing connections. 

Kai Lossgott’s work embodies a global shift in identity to value all living things. He refers to the symmetrie between plant and human ‘skin’, branches and capillaries containing blood or sap. He quotes, “It scars, it heals. It remembers.“ 

The following artists are also included in the exhibition: Sarel Petrus - sculptures, Craig Muller – sculptures, Annelie Venter - paintings and Loni Dräger with an installation themed ‘Skins’. Loni will also be showcasing a selection of ‘stone succulents’ in the Courtyard.