Viola Greyling
ARTIST STATEMENT
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Many South African citizens can relate to the sense of displacement since most of the current generation does not know how to position themselves within this ‘new’ South Africa. In my artworks, I use water and clouds as a metaphor to portray the feeling of anxiety and dislocation. In the series of paintings ‘There is no place like home’ the various fragments of my tangled identity are formed through layers of brushstrokes that create disjointed, multidimensional collaged images. Furthermore, I utilise handmade ceramic vases covered in multiple pictorial narratives to underscore the fact that we create and fashion our own personhoods. While I use photographs from my family history, none of the people are recognizable, which enables the viewer to connect with the artworks. Yet, even though the public is invited to participate in the artwork, these series of images and objects remain a deeply personal reflection and cathartic exploration of my own complicated and confused sense of being South African. (2018)
Now I further my ceramic exploration to involve the actual surface of the clay body by applying textures, from packaging materials. (2019)
ACHIEVEMENTS AND EXHIBITIONS:
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2022
- After the rain, 6 February – 27 February, Group exhibition at Johann van Heerden Gallery.
- NIROX Sculpture Park, 7 May – Aug, with University of Pretoria.
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2021
- Searching for Utopia, in a YOUniverse, 7 August – 27 September, Group exhibition at ArtBox Gallery & Framing, Pretoria.
- The Rabbits foot, 11 April, Group exhibition at Johann van Heerden Gallery.
- Saadjies 2.0, 30 April, In the Mathews & Associates Architects Saadjies collection, Pretoria.
- Sasol New Signatures, 11 November - 9 January 2022, Top 100 for sculpture piece Constantly, at the Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria.
- Rooftop X, 9 October – 22 December, Group exhibition at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- You Don't Say art exhibition curated by Teboho Lebakeng, 9 - 13 October, Group exhibition with Willem Boshoff at the University of Pretoria Student Gallery.
- Thami Mnyele, 8 October - 5 November 2022, Top 100 for sculpture piece Washes of the past, City of Ekurhuleni.
2020
- Unbroken Wilderness, 29 February – 26 March, Group exhibition at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- Transhumanism, 28 March – 30 April, Group exhibition at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- Reflections, 3 October – 21 November, Group exhibition at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- Only lines and Reflections, 3 October – 21 November, Curated the group exhibitions at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- Kinesphere, 1 November – 19 December, Group exhibition at Johann van Heerden’s Art Gallery, Pretoria.
2019
- South African Reserve Bank Art Scholarship.
- Chancellors Award for outstanding academic achievement, at Tshwane University of Technology.
-Compulsive_Art, 9 June – 12 July, Group exhibition Johann van Heerden’s Art Gallery, Pretoria.
-Six woman show, 30 June – 18 July, Group exhibition at Johann van Heerden’s Art Gallery, Pretoria.
-Star Sailors, 20 July – 7 September, 3rd and 17th Augustus walkabout with the artist, Group exhibition at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- Platform 23, 2 Augustus, Pop-up market event, Chocolat et Café, Pretoria
- Winter sale, 4 – 28 Augustus, Group exhibition at Johann van Heerden’s Art Gallery, Pretoria.
- Sasol New Signatures, 21 Augustus, Top 100 for vase series Back and Forth, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria.
-Floral Rhapsody, 7 Sep – 19 Oct, Group exhibition at The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria.
- Co-curator of the on-campus TUT Art Festival exhibition, 17-19 September.
- Exhibited at the Union Buildings, 20 September, Heritage celebration.
- Living Legends, 17 October, Helen Sebidi exhibited with TUT and UP students, Javett Art Center, Pretoria.
- Facilitator at Javett Art Centre, University of Pretoria.
- Thami Mnyele, Top 100, 28 Sep -27 Oct, Coen Scholtz Recreation Center, Kempton.
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2018
- Voices Now, Art Shift Group exhibition at Alpine Attitude Boutique, Pretoria.
- Now, Group exhibition at Johann van Heerden’s Art Gallery, Pretoria.