After the Fire

7 March – 28 April 2024

Sisonke Gallery
90 Bree Street, Cape Town

In 2020 there was a devastating fire at a home in the Winelands. The fire decimated a large portion of the house and the extensive, well-loved art collection housed there. It affected me deeply, as I had known the collection well and many of the artworks were by artist friends of mine or artists I deeply admire. In some cases, all that was left of paintings on the walls were the metal hanging fixtures and stains where the oil paint had melted to the floor. 

An object made with skill, craftsmanship and deep intent forever reflects a moment in history. The artworks in this collection were culturally significant and their loss is not only felt on an individual level, but as a deep regret on behalf of the world. 

After the fire, dozens of old fine China remnants were found amongst the debris. 

While working with these salvaged shards for this exhibition, the artworks grew into echoes of the objects they had once been. In their new form, they remind us not only of the impermanence of precious things but of the importance of appreciating thoughtfully made objects, their meaning and significance in the moments given to us.