The renowned South African artist, Wayne Barker, has turned to silkscreening for his latest exhibition, The World that Changed the Image, but his trademark touches remain, writes Mary Corrigall.
One night, two exhibitions
Since a memorable experience at a New York-based silkscreen company, where he observed professional art makers who reproduce the likes of Lichtenstein, the famous American pop artist, he is now not only working with a new medium but is also on a different plak in terms of content.
This is all just as well as he is upping the ante with two exhibitions, opening on the same night at the Everard Read in Jo’burg and in Cape Town.
As he observes, “only uncle William” (Kentridge) has probably enjoyed double openings in this country.
Both exhibitions will present some familiar Barker work; the Cape Town show will boast beaded works and, despite the fact that he claims he has “forgiven Pierneef” and has got over wrestling with his work, there will be a painting referencing the famous South African artist on exhibit too.
Those who recall the uproar that his Zulu Lulus – a work based on a Fifties-designed product using black women’s bodies as swizzle sticks he found in a sex shop – evoked in the early Nineties when they were first went on display at the Everard Read might be surprised to find they have been given new life in neon colours in a silkscreening process by the slick New York studio. Those works might go down in much the same way as they did decades ago – uneasily, as they should.
The focus of both exhibitions, however, is on this new body of silkscreened works.
Is it any coincidence that Barker has settled on a medium that is centred on reproduction at a time that coincides with his popular appeal? “No, actually, it is the medium that I like. I think, if anything, I have become more of a socialist, because my work will be more affordable now. I used to do digital prints for years but I felt slightly dishonest with digital because I don’t know whether it will last and have any archival value.”
For full feature article by Mary Corigall, see the Mail & Guardian
WHERE & WHEN: The World that Changed the Image will run at the Everard Read, 3 Portswood Rd,Cape Town and Jo’burg until March 4, 2016
PHOTO: Wayne Baker’s ‘Grenade Boy’ made using the silkscreening equipment he acquired after an inspiring trip to New York.
