Impossible neighbours
Impossible Neighbours (2010-2012) comprises multiple exhibitions that incorporated anthropomorphism and narrative to draw the viewer in. Dear Mr Adams (2011) is a series of figurative ink drawings of a tiny deceased gecko found on the floor of my dry-walled office. The title refers to one of the most common surnames in South Africa, and I dedicated the work to the mundane aspects of human existence. Other works in this series consist of renderings of flattened amphibians from my neighbourhood in Many of my neighbours passed away, recently (2010) and Runners and risers (2011); grey squirrels as registers of industry and cultured nature in Tremor, Timbre, Treble (2011) and a sacrificial rodent in Return of the shrew (2012). These works act as cues to draw the (human) viewer’s gaze downward to acknowledge and respect the parallel universes of nonhuman species.
Read Runette Kruger's review of Many of my neighbours passed away, recently (2010) shown at Fried Gallery, 24 November 2010-29 January 2011 in De Arte 83:62-68.