- To see
this story better, close your eyes – curated by Chloë Reid – opens
on 17 February 2018 - Exhibition features film and writing by
twelve artists and writers currently exhibiting and publishing in South Africa - Exhibition title is taken from Banana Moon by Thabo Jijana, 2017.
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Kiluanji Kia Henda, Havemos de Voltar (We Shall Return), 2017. Single-channel film.
Courtesy: Goodman Gallery Johannesburg
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Details of the spring 2018
exhibition in The Reid Gallery at The Glasgow School of Art were announced
today, 1 February 2018. An exhibition of film and writing, To see this story better, close your eyes is curated by artist and
recent GSA MFA graduate, Chloë Reid. It features work by Thabo Jijana, Kilanji
Kia Henda, Jemma Kahn, Rosa Lyster, Mitchell Gilbert Messina, Njabulo Ndebele,
Sean O’Toole, Pravasan Pillay, Chad Rossouw, Penny Siopis, Helen Sullivan and Marianne
Thesen Law.
exhibition in The Reid Gallery at The Glasgow School of Art were announced
today, 1 February 2018. An exhibition of film and writing, To see this story better, close your eyes is curated by artist and
recent GSA MFA graduate, Chloë Reid. It features work by Thabo Jijana, Kilanji
Kia Henda, Jemma Kahn, Rosa Lyster, Mitchell Gilbert Messina, Njabulo Ndebele,
Sean O’Toole, Pravasan Pillay, Chad Rossouw, Penny Siopis, Helen Sullivan and Marianne
Thesen Law.
For the exhibition Chloë Reid has brought
together work by twelve artists and writers currently exhibiting and publishing
in South Africa. Each of the films, audio recordings and texts featured in the
exhibition employ narrative as a technique, subject or medium. The exhibition
is curated in such a way as to encourage a variety of overlapping encounters
with the work
together work by twelve artists and writers currently exhibiting and publishing
in South Africa. Each of the films, audio recordings and texts featured in the
exhibition employ narrative as a technique, subject or medium. The exhibition
is curated in such a way as to encourage a variety of overlapping encounters
with the work
In Kiluanji Kia Henda’s film, Havemos
de Voltar (We Shall Return), Amélia Capomba, a
stuffed sable antelope, plans her escape from the Archive Centre where she
refuses to serve as a historical prop. Through found
footage, text and music, Penny’s
Siopis’s film, The New Parthenon merges
the mediations of an ordinary man’s modern Greek history of war, globalization
and migration. Helen Sullivan’s
poem, Mendi, describes the sinking of
the British troopship in 1917 that killed 616 South Africans (most of them
black South African troops). In Pravasan Pillay’s Crooks, sixty-eight
year old, Kamla reflects on her life as she bathes and washes her adult
daughter, Ambi. In Death of a Son by Njabulo Ndebele, a mother narrates the thorny
process of grieving the death of her son under the apartheid regime. Thabo Jijana’s Banana Moon is apprehensive of the festive character that
accompanies a funeral.
de Voltar (We Shall Return), Amélia Capomba, a
stuffed sable antelope, plans her escape from the Archive Centre where she
refuses to serve as a historical prop. Through found
footage, text and music, Penny’s
Siopis’s film, The New Parthenon merges
the mediations of an ordinary man’s modern Greek history of war, globalization
and migration. Helen Sullivan’s
poem, Mendi, describes the sinking of
the British troopship in 1917 that killed 616 South Africans (most of them
black South African troops). In Pravasan Pillay’s Crooks, sixty-eight
year old, Kamla reflects on her life as she bathes and washes her adult
daughter, Ambi. In Death of a Son by Njabulo Ndebele, a mother narrates the thorny
process of grieving the death of her son under the apartheid regime. Thabo Jijana’s Banana Moon is apprehensive of the festive character that
accompanies a funeral.
Mitchell Gilbert Messina reveals the dark undercurrent of
the commercial art world involving the ritual sacrifice of young artists in Detective Tales. Messina and Marianne Thesen
Law collaboratively illustrate a clumsy and competitive dialogue of sexual
fetish in the film, Fantasies Vol.1. Sean O’Toole provides A Short
History of Pleasure. Rosa Lyster delivers
the commission, The People’s Bird. Chad Rossouw considers the history of
the appearance of the parrot in Western Literature, twice, in relation to Jemma Kahn’s Somebody You’ve Already Painted Many Times from Memory. In Kahn’s
film, actors mimic an interview between David Sylvester and Francis Bacon.
the commercial art world involving the ritual sacrifice of young artists in Detective Tales. Messina and Marianne Thesen
Law collaboratively illustrate a clumsy and competitive dialogue of sexual
fetish in the film, Fantasies Vol.1. Sean O’Toole provides A Short
History of Pleasure. Rosa Lyster delivers
the commission, The People’s Bird. Chad Rossouw considers the history of
the appearance of the parrot in Western Literature, twice, in relation to Jemma Kahn’s Somebody You’ve Already Painted Many Times from Memory. In Kahn’s
film, actors mimic an interview between David Sylvester and Francis Bacon.
Chloë Reid has been generously
assisted by Helen Sullivan in her capacity as editor of Prufrock
magazine.
assisted by Helen Sullivan in her capacity as editor of Prufrock
magazine.
For further information on the contributors and curator see Notes for
Editors
Editors
To see
this story better, close your eyes runs in the Reid
Gallery, 162 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3 from 17 February – 7 March 2018. The Gallery is open from 10am – 4.30pm daily.
Entry is free
this story better, close your eyes runs in the Reid
Gallery, 162 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3 from 17 February – 7 March 2018. The Gallery is open from 10am – 4.30pm daily.
Entry is free
Ends
For further information, images and interviews contact:
Lesley Booth
07799414474
press@gsa.ac.uk
Listing
Reid Gallery, at The Glasgow School
of Art
of Art
162 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3
10am – 4.30pm daily
To see
this story better, close your eyes
this story better, close your eyes
Spring exhibition in Reid Gallery at
the GSA is curated by Chloë Reid and features
the GSA is curated by Chloë Reid and features
features film and writing by twelve artists
and writers currently exhibiting and publishing in South Africa
and writers currently exhibiting and publishing in South Africa
Entry is free
Further information: www.gsa.ac.uk
Notes for Editors
Chloë Reid was born in 1989 in Johannesburg, South
Africa. She has a bachelor in Fine Art from the Michaelis School of Fine Art,
UCT (2011) and a Master of Fine Art from The Glasgow School of Art (2017). She
is an artist and writer and is currently on a Fellowship at the Glasgow
Sculpture Studios.
Africa. She has a bachelor in Fine Art from the Michaelis School of Fine Art,
UCT (2011) and a Master of Fine Art from The Glasgow School of Art (2017). She
is an artist and writer and is currently on a Fellowship at the Glasgow
Sculpture Studios.
Contributors
Thabo Jijana was born in 1988 eNgqushwa, South
Africa, a diffuse community of hardscrabble villages nestled deep in Ndlambe
country. His debut collection, Failing
Maths and My Other Crimes, was awarded the Ingrid Jonker Prize for Poetry
(2016). His work can be read as a perpetual foregrounding of questions of rural
identity. He holds an MA in Creative Writing from Rhodes University. He is
currently a publisher at black letter media, a small, independent press based
in Johannesburg.
Africa, a diffuse community of hardscrabble villages nestled deep in Ndlambe
country. His debut collection, Failing
Maths and My Other Crimes, was awarded the Ingrid Jonker Prize for Poetry
(2016). His work can be read as a perpetual foregrounding of questions of rural
identity. He holds an MA in Creative Writing from Rhodes University. He is
currently a publisher at black letter media, a small, independent press based
in Johannesburg.
Kiluanji Kia Henda was born in 1979 in Luanda, Angola. He is an artist based between
Luanda and Lisbon, Portugal, who works across photography, video and
performance. His solo exhibitions have been held in galleries and
institutions around the world. His work has featured on biennales in Venice,
Dakar and São Paulo as well as major travelling exhibitions such as Making
Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design and The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Hell,
Purgatory revisited by Contemporary African Artists. He is the most recent
recipient of the Freize Artist Award.
Luanda and Lisbon, Portugal, who works across photography, video and
performance. His solo exhibitions have been held in galleries and
institutions around the world. His work has featured on biennales in Venice,
Dakar and São Paulo as well as major travelling exhibitions such as Making
Africa: A Continent of Contemporary Design and The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Hell,
Purgatory revisited by Contemporary African Artists. He is the most recent
recipient of the Freize Artist Award.
Jemma Kahn is a theatre maker and artist based in Johannesburg. Working primarily
in Kamishibai, a form of Japanese illustrated theatre, Kahn has performed
extensively both nationally and abroad. She has won numerous awards for her
theatrework including, most recently, the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for
Theatre 2018. A new Kamishibai show, In
bocca al Lupo, written by Jemma Kahn and Tertius Kapp, directed by Jane
Taylor and illustrated by Kahn, is currently touring Cape Town and
Johannesburg.
in Kamishibai, a form of Japanese illustrated theatre, Kahn has performed
extensively both nationally and abroad. She has won numerous awards for her
theatrework including, most recently, the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for
Theatre 2018. A new Kamishibai show, In
bocca al Lupo, written by Jemma Kahn and Tertius Kapp, directed by Jane
Taylor and illustrated by Kahn, is currently touring Cape Town and
Johannesburg.
Rosa Lyster was born in 1984 in Durban, South Africa. She is a writer and doctoral
candidate living in Cape Town, South Africa.
candidate living in Cape Town, South Africa.
Mitchell Gilbert Messina (b.1991) works primarily as a video artist in Cape
Town, South Africa. He produces short narrative and conversational videos told
through found images, re-purposed 3d models, stock footage and foley sound
packs. His work has been included in several group shows including Filter
Bubble, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Simon Castets at the LUMA
Foundation’s Westbau in Zürich, and more recently exhibited Go Away Mitchell, a solo exhibition with
Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town.
Town, South Africa. He produces short narrative and conversational videos told
through found images, re-purposed 3d models, stock footage and foley sound
packs. His work has been included in several group shows including Filter
Bubble, curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist and Simon Castets at the LUMA
Foundation’s Westbau in Zürich, and more recently exhibited Go Away Mitchell, a solo exhibition with
Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town.
Professor Njabulo Ndebele was born in 1948 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is
an award-winning author of fiction and essays. He holds a PhD in Creative
Writing from the University of Denver and has received Honorary Doctorates from
universities in South Africa, United States, Japan, Europe and the United
Kingdom. He is Chairman of The Nelson Mandela Foundation, and The Mandela
Rhodes Foundation and is currently Chancellor of the University of
Johannesburg.
an award-winning author of fiction and essays. He holds a PhD in Creative
Writing from the University of Denver and has received Honorary Doctorates from
universities in South Africa, United States, Japan, Europe and the United
Kingdom. He is Chairman of The Nelson Mandela Foundation, and The Mandela
Rhodes Foundation and is currently Chancellor of the University of
Johannesburg.
Sean O’Toole was born in 1968 in Pretoria, South Africa. He an author, critic,
journalist and editor based in Cape Town. His essays, cultural journalism and
reviews have appeared in numerous books, journals, newspapers and magazines. He
has published one book of fiction, The Marquis of Mooikloof and Other
Stories (2006), and is a founding editor of Cityscapes, a
magazine project of the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape
Town.
journalist and editor based in Cape Town. His essays, cultural journalism and
reviews have appeared in numerous books, journals, newspapers and magazines. He
has published one book of fiction, The Marquis of Mooikloof and Other
Stories (2006), and is a founding editor of Cityscapes, a
magazine project of the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape
Town.
Penny Siopis was born in 1953 in Vryburg, South Africa, and lives in Cape Town. She
has an MFA (1976) and an Honorary Doctorate (2017) from Rhodes University,
Grahamstown. Siopis is currently an Honorary Professor at Michaelis School of
Fine Art, University of Cape Town. She works in painting, film/video,
photography and installation.
has an MFA (1976) and an Honorary Doctorate (2017) from Rhodes University,
Grahamstown. Siopis is currently an Honorary Professor at Michaelis School of
Fine Art, University of Cape Town. She works in painting, film/video,
photography and installation.
Pravasan Pillay was born in 1978 in Durban, South Africa. He has published two
chapbooks of poetry, Glumlazi (2009) and 30 Poems (2015),
as well as a collection of co-written comedic short stories, Shaggy (2013).
His short story collection, Chatsworth, is forthcoming. He is also
the editor of the micro-press Tearoom Books.
chapbooks of poetry, Glumlazi (2009) and 30 Poems (2015),
as well as a collection of co-written comedic short stories, Shaggy (2013).
His short story collection, Chatsworth, is forthcoming. He is also
the editor of the micro-press Tearoom Books.
Chad Rossouw was born in 1982 in Cape Town, South Africa where he works as an educator,
editor and artist. He has a bachelor in Fine Art from Michaelis School of Fine
Art, UCT and a Masters degree at the same institution. He edits the
contemporary art magazine ArtThrob.co.za.
editor and artist. He has a bachelor in Fine Art from Michaelis School of Fine
Art, UCT and a Masters degree at the same institution. He edits the
contemporary art magazine ArtThrob.co.za.
Helen Sullivan was born in 1989 in Pretoria. She is a South African writer who lives
in Sydney. She has been published in The New Yorker online, The
Monthly, and The Guardian and writes book reviews for
the Sydney Morning Herald. She is one of the founders of Prufrock
Magazine and a graduate of Columbia Journalism School’s Publishing
Program.
in Sydney. She has been published in The New Yorker online, The
Monthly, and The Guardian and writes book reviews for
the Sydney Morning Herald. She is one of the founders of Prufrock
Magazine and a graduate of Columbia Journalism School’s Publishing
Program.
Marianne Thesen Law (b. 1994) is a Cape Town-based artist and
writer. They work mainly with video, text and performance, with a thematic
focus on language and communication, bodies, death, ghosts, sex and work. Since
graduating from Michaelis School of Fine Art in 2016, they have been working as
an art writer and performed in Cape Town and London. They are currently working
on creating DIY art spaces outside of established institutions within Cape
Town.
writer. They work mainly with video, text and performance, with a thematic
focus on language and communication, bodies, death, ghosts, sex and work. Since
graduating from Michaelis School of Fine Art in 2016, they have been working as
an art writer and performed in Cape Town and London. They are currently working
on creating DIY art spaces outside of established institutions within Cape
Town.