These found objects, which are prominent in their artworks, form a strong symbolic element in the conception of their work. They are used to directly connect the viewer with their personal experiences. Linked to their upbringing, lifestyle, traditions and daily experiences, these objects are used to highlight issues that are relevant to South Africans today. They are touchstones that speak to specific past events, memories, feelings, and hope for the future.
Although art is often seen as something that is traditionally made from mediums like paint, ink, charcoal and marble, the ability to see the potential in what surrounds us has been a skill that human beings have had since the first time they picked up a shell and made a necklace or piled some stones on top of each other to construct a sculpture. The idea of using ordinary objects from our environment is not new as artists have been working with found objects since the last century.
The African Alchemy exhibition opening on the 4th of March 2023 at Artyli Gallery in Nelson Mandela Square, will be show casing four talented young artists, Frans Thoka, Fumani Walter Maluleke, Morgan Mahape, and Pro Thusi, who have all excelled at combining “traditional” concepts of art with the more alternative idea of using found objects.
