Exhibition opening next week in Nieu-bethesda Skyshadows

NIEU-BETHESDA — Nieu-bethesda artists, Dirkje Daling and Joanne Reen are excited to be exhibiting a collaboration of their work entitled “Skyshadows” at the Gallery on the corner of Hudson and Martin Streets in Nieu-bethesda, opening on Thursday, December 21 at 18:00.

All are welcome to attend what promises to be an insightful and fascinating view into the feminine psyche of these two artists.

Joanne Reen’s work reflects the human experience within the landscape, where she portrays her emotive, environmental roots together with her engagement in the natural heritage of the Eastern Cape.

Joanne says, “When out exploring the Karoo veld, I find myself looking up towards the heavens, searching for inspiration and answers on how to get back to the garden. I needed to indulge myself with colour therapy, loose playful brushwork and a more abstract, less serious subject matter. The concept of a more reductive image informs my latest body of work. While exploring shadows or the dark side of the subconscious, I have realized that the intuitive process provided me direct access to primal images and buried memories. My works on paper aspire towards “pure psychic automatism” dictated by thought, in absence of control exercised by reason. Anxiety is raised between the dichotomy of wanting the work to resemble something yet also the desire to capture carefree abandon of pure, emotive joy.”

Dirkje’s work questions the extent to which we have an influence on nature, not just by our actions, but by what we say, feel and are. She has used a musical score to form vague portraits in the sky, asking the question, ‘are you listening?’. Other works focus on shadows, touching on intimacy, and musing with the fact that in the shadow world, two things that are close enough actually do become one. She has focused on shadows throughout - not in the natural sense, but rather the natural being a shadow of things to come or things that already are, but in a different realm.

Treat yourself to an evening out in this charming village as you are enveloped in the ephemeral works of these two talented artists.