ON TOUR

> February 2010 : Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth

> April 2010 : Alliance Française of Maseru

> May 2010 : Alliance Française of Durban

> July 2010 : Alliance Française of Johannesburg

> August 2010 : Alliance Française of Pretoria

> Septembre 2010 : Alliance Française of Cape Town

For more information
Contact Pauline :
culture.jhb@alliance.org.za
011 646 1169

About the exhibition

My current work investigates two conflicting aspects of society ; namely our belief in the individual, and the crisis of overpopulation. The viewer is encouraged to confront this sensitive dilemma and form an internal dialogue around it.

Within the environmental debate the role of overpopulation in the damage of our planet has been severely downplayed. This seems to be mainly because it is perceived that any solution to this issue would reach freedom of the individual. Yet, one of the most efficient ways to demean the value of the individual in our society is to create more people than could be realistically sustained. In the words of the late Isaac Asimov : “democracy cannot survive overpopulation. Human dignity cannot survive it. Convenience and decency cannot survive it.”

This body of work attempts to stress the weight of individuality, and thereupon turn right back on itself to delve into population concerns. It presents a turbulent ambivalence with no simple solution. The only solution presented is the opening of a debate. Only by facing and talking openly about a problem can we hope to obtain a better understanding.

The works zoom in upon single faces and then urge the viewer to stand back and think about the meaning of 6.5 billion individuals and the impassioned traces they leave on this planet.

Biographical details

In 2007 I completed my degree in BA Fine Arts, majoring in Photography, at the University of Pretoria (South Africa). 2008 I decided to devote the year to a more Design orientated approach in order to enable me to pursue a career in the creative media industry. I enrolled three new media subjects at The Open Window School of Visual Communication and did a four month internship at a small Graphic Design company. In the mean while my Fine Art Photography was honoured with a Merit Award at the Sasol New Signatures Competition 2007 and the Gerard Sekoto Prize at the Absa l’Atelier Competition 2008. I am currently operating as a freelance designer and illustrator in Pretoria, South Africa.