Drawing At Number 16
Drawing At Number 16
This series dwells on the transition zone between figurative and abstract art. Although the composing elements are often modern day and mundane mass-produced objects such as cars or airplanes or kitchen & house utilities such as scissors, razors or cleaning products, they are highly abstracted almost beyond being recognizable. One or a few persons (always blank and therefore undefined) appear as quiet, almost absent spectators amidst it all who seem to reflect on the state of the world they have to live and function in. The overall result looks a bit like a stained glass window, albeit in an abstract rendition. Something remains unresolved and asks for further contemplation and explanation. Is this the way it had to be or the world had to go, the spectators seems to ask themselves? Was it for the better or the worse? Is there any turning back if we don’ t like it? What lies ahead of us? Are we going in the right direction? Some unanswered questions linger on. In a way it could be considered as a sublimated tribute to pop-art whereby imagery from popular and mass culture is included in the artworks.
I used to live in eSwatini at the time I made this artwork. I used to teach sciences in a High School at Kwaluseni. I lived in the teachers quarters at Number 16, hence the title. It represents my desk with the halogen lamp and a Rotring drawing pen which I used when making this drawing / painting. In a way this artwork is a bit autobiographic. It is a reflection on myself as an artist.