The focus is on Margaret Nel, in a show at Ebony Cape Town, titled Isolation, highlighting 11 selected paintings from 1976 – 2000.
Based in Pretoria, Nel’s paintings are best known for their stark, conceptually challenging figurative and still life imagery, striking use of colour and candid commentary on the human condition. The recurring presence of a figure in the works would remain a primary vehicle for Nel to express themes of psychological distress and isolation.
In the late 1980s, Nel’s work intuitively moved towards Postmodernism, with more complex compositions and an emphasis on iconoclasm thereby allowing and encouraging multiple interpretations of her work. The loss of individual control became a dominant theme during this decade.
‘Isolation’ provides a glimpse into the artist’s constant awareness of ostracization, social displacement, and the direct relationship between our environments and their effect on us. Her works also comment on political transitions within her own country and transitions of growing up within her own family and the vulnerability that comes along with that. With the coinciding of emigration and climate change, Nel’s work became centred around scarcity of resources and a concern of inadequate physical and emotional preparedness for the future.
A digital catalogue will be available from Wednesday 30th JuneÂ
“The fight against COVID-19 continues – please wear a mask when visiting us; we will ensure that all safety protocols are in place on our side. We look forward to welcoming you.”
WHAT: Isolation – Margaret Nel
WHERE: EBONY CAPE TOWN, 67 Loop Street, Cape Town 8001
WHEN: 30 June (4pm to 7pm) until 31 July 2021
INFO: T +27 (0)21 424 9985 | info@ebonycurated.com | VISIT
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