Christopher Swift has an elegant and thought provoking scupture exhibition titled The Void: positive and negative spaces at Commune 1.
“If you think it’ll be a success…or not, you’re right”
Swift has chosen the above statement as the golden thread to weave between the paradigm of past and future. He places great emphasis on the power of mental projection, believing in its ability to shape the future. Including large-scale installations made from various materials and sculptures made almost solely out of original Robben Island prison fencing, the exhibition attempts to explore the dark shadow of our past and the brilliance of our liberation from it. With the conceptual birth of the ‘Rainbow Nation’ as a point of departure, Swift reflects on almost two decades of democracy and takes a sobering view of its successes and failures.
‘The Void: positive and negative spaces’ acts as a precursor to a proposed major installation on top of Signal Hill for the World Design Capital 2014. In support of this proposal the exhibition includes drawings and maquettes documenting the various material possibilities of a star tetrahedron, a shape that works as the foundation for Swift’s show both conceptually and corporeally.
Christopher Swift (born 1973 Vereeniging) lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. He received his BA Fine Arts (Hons) with Distinction from the University of Cape Town in 2009. Swift is the recipient of the Spier Contemporary Judges Award (2010), the Michaelis Prize in 2009 and the Simon Gershwin Award (2009). Having participated in numerous group shows the artist’s first solo show, titled ‘Umlungu’ took place at Commune.1 in 2011.
WHEN: until 20 September 2013
WHERE: Commune 1, 64 Wale Street, Cape Town
