Young artists’ works inspire at Curro Nelspruit

MBOMBELA – “To be an artist is to believe in life.” Judging by the words of Henry Moore, an English sculptor and artist, the matric visual-arts pupils of Nelspruit Curro School believe in life. These young artists’ works were celebrated during an intimate exhibition recently.

This was followed by a week-long public exhibition of their works in the school’s visual-arts class. Parents and friends were amazed to see the wonderful artworks hanging in Ms Celeste Schoeman’s classroom.

Principal Mr Paul Viljoen was just as proud of this first-ever matric visual-arts class. Last Thursday, Schoeman escorted Lowvelder through the exhibition, where each display told a story.

The grade 12s of 2015 were tasked with creating artworks according to two themes. Scarcity and surplus was the one contrasting theme, while juxtaposition was the other.

They showed advanced emotional intelligence in the interpretation of the themes and each added an individual touch to his or her work.

Beate Parfitt won the grade’s overall art prize with her photo, video and sketch exhibition depicting the tragic effects of a local state hospital on its patients. After taking photos of a few patients, she photographed the decay at the hospital.

A video presentation replayed interviews she had with doctors and patients. Their faces were covered during these interviews, depicting the lack of individual attention that some at the hospital may feel.

She could identify with their pain as she suffered from back problems and had to spend countless hours in a hospital this year.

Chadré de Lange’s love of animals was depicted in her art. She addressed animal abuse with her collection of scratch art that featured, among others, rhinos and giraffes.

Amanda Neil’s four masks, drizzled in various colours, especially drew the eye. It was positioned next to another work that contrasted nature’s purity with people’s obsession over money. This was done with, among others, scratch art and leaves.

Viewing Denmin Moore’s dream is like jumping into the surreal dream of an artist whose depth and creativity know no boundaries.

Denmin, who will study design next year, strung his works in the air, adding to the abstract effect of the artwork itself.

Cheline Stander’s work included a video display that told a thousand stories. A beautiful sketch of her face was the backdrop for images of her favourite books. She based her project on the contrast between herself, who does exceptionally well at school and love to read, and her younger sister who suffers from a learning impairment. “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, the man who never reads lives only one,” a quote by George Martin, captured the essence of her presentation.

Megan Davies sketched portraits depicting anxiety. Her brilliantly accurate sketches resonate with anxiety sufferers, as this condition is often difficult to define.

Georgina Glass’ works were inspired by her love for her close-knit family. She used interesting mediums like tea, wine, twigs and lace from her grandmother’s wedding dress to conjure up portraits of her grandmother and grandfather.

Her self-portrait was stitched onto fabric and framed with colourful shweshwe material, honouring the area where she grew up.

Schoeman commended their dedication towards art. “They worked really hard. Weekends and public holidays were often filled with visual-arts work.” she said. “I am very happy with their work and am very proud of them,” she said.

Together, the works of these pupils formed a breathtaking art gallery.