Supported by the National Arts Council and the Human Elephant Foundation
Music written for the Dreams as R-evolution installation by Salim Washington and UZIBO
How uncanny is it that I began writing about this Dreams as R-evolution concept – the installation and artbook more than 2 years ago.
Now, my 9-month installation process has been stalled by the virus-i-do-not-want-to-mention, 2-3 weeks before I was due to complete. The Dreams as R-evolution asks whether we are able to proactively change what we need to change (and this is open to debate); or whether we will be forced to by the sheer force of an external factor? At the time I wrote this, I imagined a tsunami or earthquake; a comet or a world war…
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The findings in the form of this installation and its photographic documentation (by Roger Jardine), essays and creative contributions (Prof R. Maart; Coral Bijoux-the artist; Malika Ndlovu; Usha Seejarim; Tracy-Lee Easthorpe; Pralini Naidoo; AndreCroucamp; Prof S. Washington and his band, Ubizo; Diana Ferrus; Obakeng Thamage; Prof. H. Baijnath) will be published in an artbook by Print Matters Heritage and is funded by the NIHSS.
Installation assistance by Tholakele Mdakane and site support by the UKZN Westville Nursery team.
The installation has been funded and supported by the National Arts Council; the HEF and ‘in kind’ by UKZN.
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This body of work, invites you into its making process. It invites you to engage as I have, the natural elements; the artmaking; the growing and the dying within that space while I extract and immerse myself into a dream that may provide answers.
The installation includes four key elements which have been loosely associated under the following sub-topics of Space; SELF; Authority/Power and Innocence (return of)
These images are process works, which will evolve into the final piece /installation after lock down. It by no means constitutes the entire body of work at the site (Westville campus plant nursery, UKZN). During this period, the installation has been open to the public on Fridays while the artist works. There have also been presentations, talks and workshops conducted by the artist on the topic.
The process continues to unfold and as with all dreams that hover in the hypnagogic state, I continue to dream;… unfolding further elements in a small, small space, away from my site, until lock down is over…
Persevere and inspire us further. I came to the realization, right now, that it takes time to achieve depth for those life changing inputs.
Thanks Schalk…I can only do my best to let my work ‘speak’ visually and otherwise!
Yes, and time…In a world of instant, quick and fast…as I say we can always simply…’deleted a friend’ without experiencing the agonizing effect of the process of disconnection because we do not like pain (pain is good as long as we can manage it…it grows us). We don’t always acknowledge that time as in age is special and nuances our awkwardness (one hopes) and deepens our understandings of things…of living.
For some reason I don’t understand I was impressed by “Innocence” and “Revolution”.
I think I need some explanation … if there is any.
Hi Jos
I was laughingly accused of writing too much especially when i said i would emphasize the visual language as its much more universal.
There is an artbook coming out soon with an essay on all the elements, so keep an eye on that…
Meanwhile…think about why innocence returned to my work which began as a r-evolutionary idea…Its been a work I have lived with and in for a long time. The physical work took 9 months. At some point, i was surrounded by what i refer to as ‘innocence’. I watched the insects, birds and animals going about their business…i watched how that impacted on me even in moments of anger and thoughts of subversion… I watched how the children played in that space…I watched and thought about possibilities for change…revolution is not always about the use of violence…sometimes that’s necessary, but its essentially about an enormous …shift…perhaps the ‘weapon’ there is one of innocence…? My thoughts unravelling….
Wow Coral. This is beautiful work. Love seeing creating art. Channeling love your way. Jabsi Matloa (Maseko)
Hey there Jabsi! I have not looked at the website for a while…thank you dear. It needs updating now that i have completed. Will send you a link on the updates soon…Send love, send loving energy…we all need it …and to maintain the dream…no virus must stop it…
Hey there Jabsi! I have not looked at the website for a while…thank you dear. It needs updating now that i have completed. Will send you a link on the updates soon…Send love, send loving energy…we all need it …and to maintain the dream…no virus must stop it…
Thank you Hensely!
And thank you to Wardkiss, (the Paint Team) Sydeny Road and Nellie in particular for your interest and putting aside your plastic waste so that I could turn them into sculptural forms for this project. It bodes well when commerce has an understanding of the role of the arts…and vice versa. Synergy its called…
Outstanding work well done…
From wardkiss paint team…..
Just using what is gods given Youseff…as for Dali, I am flattered though we make our own here on the southern most tip! Thank you!
There is a lot to see even if a lot is hidden from sight. How one sees oneself in relation to power/authority is more interesting to me. Power is always given and the giver determines how much of that power is going to be given, and why.
Embedded meanings Radikobo. For me, power= energy and like energy which is life is inherent.
Coral is one of the most creative persons I have ever met even her new website is full of artistic touches. Her works always remind me of Salvador Dalli.
nyc work please keep up the good work.
Thanks Bongani…I try…I try…I do.
Coral is Salvador Dalli of South Africa. She is creative in all her touches., even in her new website. With my love and best wishes
Shukraan lak!