Unfurl Exhibition Rust-en-Vrede

Unfurl

A GROUP EXHIBITION

24 February 2024 - 23 March 2024

Johanna Oliver

Unfurl The intricate beauty of a flower's petals is mesmerizing, as they gracefully unfurl to reveal their innermost secrets. A painter's brush delicately captures these details, highlighting the subtle nuances of each petal, the interplay of light and shadow, and the vibrant hues bestowed by nature. Through art, flowers transcend their fleeting nature, becoming timeless symbols of beauty and grace.

Much like flowers, our lives are adorned with various patterns, experiences, and emotions. The array of colors and patterns in flowers mirrors the diverse palette of emotions we encounter. From the bright yellows of joy to the deep blues of sadness, our lives are a tapestry of emotions, echoing the myriad of colors found in flowers.

The color black holds profound symbolism in art and rituals, often associated with darkness and mystery. It represents the unknown, the hidden depths of our existence. In art, black can evoke melancholy, introspection, or rebellion. In rituals, black symbolizes mourning, loss, and the transition from life to death. It serves as a reminder of our transient nature and the inevitability of our mortality.

- Anina Deetlefs

Anastacia “Each night, when I go to sleep, I die.

And the next morning, when I wake up, I am reborn.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

Anina Deetlefs Anina specializes in creating portraits and figurative studies, both large and small scale, that incorporate floral elements. She draws inspiration from nature, womanhood, and the various facets of identity, translating these themes into art that is relatable and approachable. Her work delves into adversities, mistakes, failures, and relationships, exploring how these experiences contribute to personal growth and spiritual enlightenment. By depicting internal landscapes, Anina examines the ambiguity of life, emphasizing that individual perception shapes one's interpretation of reality. Currently, she is focused on exploring florals and patterns using mixed media, blending her passion for portraiture, bold colors, and nature with a clean mid-century modern backdrop. The result is contemporary artwork rich in symbolism.

Betrayal

Lizl Bode Lizl's artistic expression delicately balances simplicity and intricacy, capturing the essence of portraits and everyday objects in nuanced shades of monochrome tones with graphite. Her meticulous attention to detail achieves a strikingly realistic effect, showcasing not only her technical mastery but also her commitment to pushing artistic boundaries.

In her work, Lizl invites viewers to discover the beauty in ordinary moments, transforming the familiar into the extraordinary through her keen attention to detail. Her artistic philosophy focuses on creating technically impeccable pieces that are distinctly singular and unique, reflecting her pursuit of individuality through her monochromatic explorations and dedication to authenticity.

Johanna Oliver Johanna specializes in blending botanical realism with creative flair, drawing inspiration from nature's beauty and intricacies.

She crafts detailed artworks using paper, wire, and glue, aiming to capture the harmonious essence and wonder of the natural world while evoking emotional responses from viewers. She often utilizes Italian crepe paper and sustainable/recycled materials, promoting eco-friendly practices in art production and inspiring global audiences to explore inventive and sustainable approaches to creating art.

Solandis “You are blooming like the rare flower you are.”

-Avijeet Das

Lilium

Aiyana

“Inner beauty, too, needs occasionally to be told it is beautiful.”

“From my rotting body, flowers shall grow and I am in them, and that is eternity.”

Robert Brault

-Edvard Munch

Paschal

Noora

“The splendid thing about falling apart silently... is that you can start over as many times as you like.”

“Embracing the devine feminine means embracing our intuition, our emotions, our sensuality and our connection to nature.”

-Aristotle

-Marianne Williamson

Casta

Elysia

“Rare is the union of beauty and purity.”

“Peace is finding your bliss.”

-Juvenal

-Christine Evangelou

Tivka- Hope

Lent

“Hope is a waking dream.”

“The earth laughs in flowers.”

-Aristotle

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

What inspires you about Unfurl?

The essence of flowers is a tapestry woven with beauty, symbolism, and emotions. They inspire , enrich the natural world, and bring joy and meaning to people's lives. Whether in art, nature, or personal experiences, flowers have the power to captivate our senses and touch our souls. They are a reminder of the inherent beauty that surrounds us and a testament to the wonders of the natural world. Much like a flower petal unfurling we too are in a constant state of unfurling, becoming and expanding whether through new experiences or entering new chapters in our lives.

Mayleigh “Luck is not chance.”

-Emily Dickinson

Imre “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

-Lao Tzu

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow “This is the only truth in the world that was necessary yesterday, is necessary today and will be necessary tomorrow: be conscious of now.”

-Gift Gugu Mona

The theme of "Unfurl" is embodied in the gradual “decay” of the Poppies, representing the unfolding of life experiences and emotions.

The vibrant magenta symbolises the exuberance and intensity of existence, while the fading and decaying colors signify the subtle yet inevitable descent towards tranquility and acceptance

Johanna Oliver

The theme of "Unfurl" is embodied in the gradual “decay” of the Poppies, representing the unfolding of life experiences and emotions. The vibrant magenta symbolises the exuberance and intensity of existence, while the fading and decaying colors signify the subtle yet inevitable descent towards tranquility and acceptance.

In the realm of nature, few phenomena captivate our senses as much as the unfurling of a flower. This delicate process, from birth to bloom, mirrors the journey of human life, from infancy to adulthood, and ultimately, to our inevitable demise. By exploring the patterns and colours found in flowers and their symbolic significance, we can draw parallels to the patterns that unfold throughout our own lives. Additionally, the use of black in art and rituals adds a profound layer of symbolism, while the silent language of flowers offers a unique means of communication.

What do your artworks represent?

Capturing a moment of happiness, preserving it as a keepsake, only to have life intervene and snatch that joy away. You crumple the snapshot and cast it aside.

Yet, with time, you revisit that crumpled image and carefully unfold it. Confronting the pain, facing your trauma, and embarking on the journey of healing.

Betrayal Unfurling a crumpled wild rose is to heal from turmoil in one's life.

It feels bittersweet to love you, as though time has already run its ruinous path and everything good is over before it begins.

It feels perilous to love you, like a dust storm swallowing up the sky or a comet skimming the stratosphere.

But it is an honor to love you. Like the snow drifts giving way to spring. I will hold you for as long as I can.

-Lang Leav

Regret Unfurling a crumpled white rose is to start a journey of healing after a huge loss.

It was all I wanted for the longest time-to open my eyes and see you there. To stretch out my hand and touch the soft, yielding warmth of your skin. But now I have learned the secret of distance. Now I know being close to you was never about proximity.

-Lang Leav

Renewal Unfurling torn pieces of an image of a daisy is to start a journey of self-reflection and healing after a tumultuous time in one's life.

If this is my heartache, then let it be mine to endure.

Permit me to feel it in its entirety. Don’t tell me how much of you I am allowed to love -Lang Leav

Recovery Unfurling torn strips of an image of a sunflower is to start a journey of healing after depression and self-loathing; and putting your life back piece by piece.

Look at you. You’ve stitched your life so perfectly together.

You’ve worked so damn hard to get to where you are, and now you have everything you ever wanted. So why do you keep looking back at the one thing that can undo it all?

-Lang Leav

What inspires you about Unfurl?

The blossoming of nature's flowers mirrors our life's journey, from inception to culmination, marking significant milestones filled with profound meaning. By juxtaposing the fragility of flowers with disposable paper, their significance takes on a deeper dimension, embodying personal and cherished meanings.

Unfurl Unfurling a white paper strip revealing an image of a daisy is to uncover the beauty in your life which you previously did not see.

He loves me, he loves me not!

He loves me, he loves me not. I know it is only a game, but it really got me down. Will I ever know?

Broken Unfurling torn pieces of an image of a sunflower is to start a journey of healing after depression and self-loathing. And putting your life back together piece by piece.

Restore Unfurling an image of three daisies is to start the journey of rebuilding trust in someone you love.

One day I looked at you, and it suddenly occurred to me how beautiful your smile was. You asked me why I had that look on my face, as though a shadow had fallen across its sun-drenched landscape, heavy with premonition, dark with revelation. The second i tried to tell myself I wasn’t in love was the moment I realised I was.

-Lang Leav

Ephemeral Bloom Ephemeral Bloom is a captivating hanging installation that explores the transformative journey of life through the delicate metaphor of Poppies.

The piece features a progression of vibrant magenta poppies, symbolising the peak of life and vitality, gradually spiralling down to faded hues, echoing the natural cycle of growth, bloom, and eventual decline.

Describe your technique Each Poppy has been handcrafted from a combination of various weights of Italian crepe paper and recycled coffee filters to add a unique textural visual to the installation and features a copper wire stem which has been intricately woven through a tubular base created with chicken wire. These papers have been coloured with coffee, tea, gel food colouring, gouache paint, Pan Pastels and spray paint with each receiving a coat of Matt Mod Podge to ensure paper strength, longevity and colour preservation. The flowers each feature either a handmade centre or a real dried Poppy centre for visual interest. The final element to each centre, is a finely fringed Stamen created from hand painted Italian crepe paper and attention was given to ensure that each Stamen had a unique appearance and shade of colour.

The hanging installation allows for a dynamic presentation and movement, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in the changing narrative as they move around the piece.