Oakhill’s art now on show
KNYSNA - "Art is a very small word for something very big. Art is deeply embedded in humanity, who have been creating art for over 30 000 years. Art and cultural production are at the very centre of what makes a society what it is. Art is connected to life."
These were the words of Oakhill School's head of arts, Colette Rügheimer, during her welcoming speech at the opening of the 2022 Oakhill Matric Art Exhibition on Friday 4 November. The exhibition is at the Knysna Mall, in the open floor space above Wimpy and Mr Price Sport and not in the old Standard Bank premises as before. The exhibition space can be accessed via the elevators or stairs next to Markham and
Mr Price Sport.
The theme this year was Intertwined/Interwoven.
"How fitting… as art itself is interwoven and intertwined into life and society, the past, the present, the future, the real and the imagined," Rügheimer said.
"This year was the first year that the students had to complete the drawing and the artwork under supervision at school and could not take any part of the work home. What you see here tonight is the trace of a magnificent struggle."
Collectively, the 12 students have spent 1 134 hours and 45 minutes producing the artworks that were put on display. "A magnificent struggle," described Rügheimer.
She said that the students had needed to conceptualise the theme, struggle through the creative process in the
journal and the contextual research, and have realised the relationship between history, philosophy, society, politics and art.
"Art opens passages and possibilities to think beyond what we already know and the work these students have
produced is evidence that they have done exactly this; they have challenged themselves to think beyond what they already knew, and have in turn, challenged us to think beyond what we already know as we engage with each of their works."
Rügheimer believes that art, as an academic and practical pursuit, accesses one's mind or spirit in a way that nothing else does.
"And making art is all about finding who you are. Having walked this journey with them, I believe that this remarkable group of young artists have, through their art, found who they are and revealed themselves through their work. One of the comments made by the examiner, who marked their work earlier this week, was that this body of work is 'an honest reflection of who every child is'. Art Class of 2022, you have revealed yourself to me, to us, and I see you, we see you."
The exhibition is open until Sunday 13 November, weekdays from 09:00 to 16:00 and Saturday and Sunday from 09:00 to 14:00.