ARTIST STATEMENT - URBANISM
Urbanism reflects randomly on the relationship between a Euro-African woman and her mother-city, Johannesburg. Architecture, flesh, masculine and feminine states, relationships and isolation, bravery and fear inform this body of work.
A variety of media was explored to produce Urbanism: oil, acrylic, charcoal, pastel, printmaking, photography, digital genres and multi-media installation.
Architect Adolf Loos stated that architecture (the house) is obliged to bring comfort, whereas works of art must produce discomfort and challenge the status quo. In Urbanism, architecture embodies the source of discomfort. Buildings and structures represent masculine strength, beautiful and stoic, apparently fulfilling some grand purpose while the female form embodies fragility, human fickleness and fading physical beauty.
In a wrestling match between artist, medium and message, contrasting subject matter such as relationship, isolation, bravery and fear create tension bringing about theimages. Elements of chaos and violence form part of the creative process asperfectionist takes on flawed humanity.
Mark making is integral to the message. In a repetitive process of covering and exposing, controlling and relinquishing all control, the images are created. Layers are exposed and hidden behind societal masks, revealing unexpected beauty when imperfection and brokenness is embraced.
Lynette van Tonder
Cutting chai
Mixed media on canvas (89 x 151cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Glass houses
Mixed media on board (120 x 90cm)
Lynette van Tonder
She is
Mixed media on paper (57 x 75cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Perhaps
Mixed media on paper (53 x 53cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Bridges
Mixed media on paper (57 x 77cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Fly away Paul
Mixed media on paper (57 x 77cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Matriarch
Mixed media on paper (57 x 77cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Golden thread
Mixed media on paper (54 x 74cm)
Lynette van Tonder
Seasonal
Mixed media on paper (72 x 103cm)
Images and Information Sourced From: http://www.art.co.za/
My Thoughts:
I'm a nature lover, there is nothing better to me than going on a road trip and that feeling the moment you leave the city limits and the open veld appears before your eyes. The relief.
This is a feeling I'm sure many people feel and understand, but the reality is the majority of us live and work in cities. Some may feel some resentment to being boxed in, glaring at buildings and the cogs of industry. The truth is though there is a beauty to structure and the mechanical if you only take the time to look. Take off the shades of resentment and really look at what is around you.
If you don't learn to live and love in tranquility with what ever your surroundings may be, you are never going to be at peace. Finding a balance between where we want to be and we are, is important.
I often find myself looking at some industrial form and thinking 'How beautiful' then I remember what that thing stands for and find myself hating the fact that I see beauty there, but if I don't find beauty I'd be filled with self resentment.
I'm not saying love what they stand for (please don't), but there it is and it's not going away any time soon, so separate what it stands for and the visual beauty. It is there.
Having said all that though, these monoliths of industry are changing. Buildings are going green and we are finally seriously looking at renewable energy. The city-scapes are changing and none too soon. All this takes time though, we need to keep pushing industry to be more responsible and more open to change.
Artists like Lynette force the viewer to think about the feelings we have toward our urban surroundings, force and affect change where you can.
Artists Contact information:Cell: +27 82 688 0279
Email: [email protected]
Artists Contact information:Cell: +27 82 688 0279
Email: [email protected]