Local artist explores ‘human legacy’ in east art exhibition

Those familiar with her work were, however, surprised at the change in some of the work on exhibit on Friday.

July 13, 2019

Eliot Mahlase 1 minute read

Local artist Helena Hugo showcased her latest art at an exhibition called Legacy at the Association of Arts in Nieuw Muckleneuk on Friday evening.

Hugo is known for her realistic pastel portraits of people.

Those familiar with her work were, however, surprised at the change in some of the work on exhibit on Friday.

Hugo said the change in her artistic approach was prompted by a three months’ artist’s residency on Entabeni farm in Knysna, sponsored by SAFFCA during the end of 2018.

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Here she began work on a body of work exploring issues regarding land ownership and nature, which is linked to habitat destruction; she also began questioning the often used word “legacy”.

“Legacy explores the unease humans experience with the idea of the loss of self, which can be equalled to the fear of death; and how it sometimes manifests in destructive behaviour towards other humans, animals, and nature. It becomes apparent in our need to be remembered or to leave behind a legacy,” Hugo said.

Many of the works included in the exhibition suggest scenes of archaeology, which reminds us of the frailty of human life and the even greater precarious fragility of nature.