blue cactus
artist residency
mié, 13 oct
|Barcelona
National Identity
theCOart prides itself on exhibiting “National Identity”, works in a range of media, seeking to provoke cross-disciplinary debate on South Africa's multicultural identity. Although practices, processes and personal philosophies may differ, all the artists have a common goal: to create relevant art.
when and where
13 oct 2021, 18:00 – 23 oct 2021, 17:00
Barcelona, C. d'Espronceda, 310, 08027 Barcelona, Spain
what
NATIONAL IDENTITY
CURATERS STATEMENT:
One of our deepest needs is for a sense of identity, belonging and human attachment. Identity is the way we perceive and express ourselves. Factors and conditions that an individual is born with; such as ethnic heritage, sex, or one's body; often play a role in defining one's identity.
However, many aspects of a person’s identity change throughout his, her or their life. People’s experiences can alter how they see themselves or are perceived by others. Conversely, their identities also influence the decisions they make: Individuals choose their friends, adopt certain fashions, and align themselves with political beliefs based on their identities.
The era of Apartheid in South Africa came to an end with the first free elections in 1994. Since then, visual art has played an instrumental role in the process of societal change: the quest for a new national identity is vividly reflected in the diversity of contemporary South African art.
The artists in this exhibition use their work to express, explore, and question ideas about identity. Therefore, it is not simply what we see, but a way of seeing. We see it with our eyes but interpret it with our mind and ascribe values to Identity for intangible spiritual reasons. Identity is important in art for expressing a meaningful understanding of who we are. If you've not been honest with who you are, your work will not carry the impact that it needs to cause any level of response in your viewers.