WITH China exerting increasing influence, Africa has gone through major changes and development in recent years. To express their thoughts on China, a select group of artists are involved in an exhibition, Consider China, at artSPACE Gallery. The exhibition opens on Monday.
In preparation for this exhibition, the gallery organised an all-day workshop at The Collective last month. Dr Ross Anthony of the Centre of Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University and Kristin Hua Yang of the Centre for Visual Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Pietermaritzburg campus presented a comprehensive and diverse picture covering art, social, environmental, financial and political issues in South Africa’s relationship with China.
Tonight chatted to one of the artists, Caroline Birch, about the significance of this art demonstration.
“China is becoming more of a force culturally and economically and it is now a strong presence in Africa. For artists, as a useful interface between change and challenge, and society, we feel it’s an important subject to consider and interpret,” she said. “This show is the fourth in the Inspiration series at artSPACE Durban. To enlighten us we invited Dr Anthony to speak about China. He lived and studied there for 10 years. Kristin Hua Yang, a Chinese artist studying at UKZN, spoke comprehensively about art in China.”
The artist said her work represented how China seemed to have presented itself to the world – “the answer to mass production and not losing sight of being human in the midst of this”.
Specialising in oil painting and drawing, Birch loves the depth and vibrancy of oils. For her, there is always something magical about putting pencil to paper. Asked about how she deals with her biggest challenges, she said: “Not giving up, keeping going especially when one hits a block – hard work is the very best cure.”
As for her creative process, the artist said ideas came more as visual images than as thoughts. “Visual ideas can leap out from anywhere. That is just the starting point. Then it’s a matter of getting that visual idea down and refining it. It almost takes on a life of its own and unexpected things can happen while you work.”
Those who attend can expect a more intimate and everyday view of the relationship between the two countries. “Hopefully viewers will come away feeling less intimidated by the Chinese presence in Africa.”
• The exhibition runs at artSPACE Gallery from Monday to May 4. For more information, call 031 312 0793.