David Krut Projects is pleased to present Concerning Preciousness, a solo exhibition by Lynda Ballen. The exhibition will be opened by Walter Oltmann.
Lynda Ballen’s work grapples with centuries old philosophical issues that attend the enterprise of mining. The works in Concerning Preciousness pay homage to the Renaissance geological scientist and theorist Georgius Agricola and appropriate the drawings from his texts to acknowledge traditional European linear techniques and explore the graphic aesthetic as a potential for narrative. Ballen, working in ink and glitter as opposed to the traditional woodcut medium, traces these lines onto intricately constructed handmade paperworks which describe the despoiling of nature for humanity’s gain, whilst simultaneously acknowledging the value of these subterranean metals and gems. These paperworks are created from recycled archival paper and metallic substances which seek to draw attention to the nature of workmanship and the crafted object, while the use of threads and plaited fibre allude to the value inherent in traditional African textiles, but, moreover, as a metaphor for the preciousness of the earth’s surface.
As contemporary South African visual art statements these objects engage with the apparent polarized concepts of art and craft and the traditional African and historical European aesthetic ideologies. Most significantly, these works confront the contentious current issues and environmental concerns posed by mining.
There will be a walkabouts with the artist at the gallery on:
Saturday 13 October at 11h00
Saturday 20 October at 11hoo
Thursday 25 October at 19h00
Saturday 27 October at 11h00
Thursday 1 November 19h00, Arts on Main
SELECTED WORKS FROM “CONCERNING PRECIOUSNESS” WILL BE ON SHOW AT ARTS ON MAIN FOR THE REMAINDER OF 2012.
Bejewelled, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Beneath the Forest, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented handcrafted paper laminated over twine
De Pretiositas, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Diamonds Don’t Fall From the Sky 16 1-16 Carats, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Diamonds Don’t Fall From the Sky 20 1-4 Carats, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Ex Terra, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Far Below, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Fields are Devastated, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Hidden in the Valley, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
In the Depths, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
In the Hills and In the Mountains, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
In Their Proper Abiding Place, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with glitter handcrafted and laminated over twine
In Their Proper Abiding Place, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with glitter handcrafted and laminated over twine
It Is Employed in Making Weapons, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
It Is Not the Metals That Are to be Blamed, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Landscape with Gems 1, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Landscape with Gems 2, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Landscape with Gems 3, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Landscape with Ore 1, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafter and laminated over twine
Landscape with Ore 2, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Landscape with Ore 3, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with gouache and glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine
Metals Are of Use to Painters, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Mining is a Perilous Occupation, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Nature is Despoiled, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted handcrafted archival paper laminated over thread
Precious Metals Foster All Manners of Vice, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Rivers are Diverted, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted handcrafted archival paper laminated over thread
Strata, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented handcrafted paper laminated over twine
Subterraneo, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
The Earth is Eroded, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted handcrafted archival paper laminated over thread
The Groves Are Cut Down, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted handcrafted archival paper laminated over thread
The Land is Pitted, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted handcrafted archival paper laminated over thread
The Metallic Earth, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented handcrafted paper laminated over twine
The Shimmering Ground, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted pigmented archival paper with glitter, handcrafted and laminated over twine.
The Trees are Logged, 2012. Ink drawing on reconstituted handcrafted archival paper laminated over thread-LR
The Water is Contaminated, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine
Under the Fields, 2012. Ink and glitter drawing on reconstituted, pigmented, handcrafted paper, laminated over twine