Urbanism – a solo presentation by Lynette Van Tonder
PARKHURST - Artist Lynette van Tonder's exhibition titled Urbanism shows the reflections of a random relationship between a Euro-African woman and her mother city, Johannesburg.
According to Van Tonder, the woman that she depicts in her art pieces deals with the hardships of the city while having a survival mindset to get through the city life and the change that the city might bring to her life.
“She becomes infatuated in silent secrecy, dreaming and obsessing about issues of safety, integrity, femininity and politics,” said Van Tonder.
“My artistry is of the relationship that the woman has with the buildings in every town she moves into and out of around Johannesburg. The buildings symbolise a masculine figure as the change of the city symbolise the relationship she has with the buildings, and how much of an impact it has on her.
The frustration and discontent about the change the city invokes, makes her lose herself, her sense of pride and worth as she turns away from the buildings in a vain attempt to be indifferent.
“When a woman over sexualises herself, it is considered very powerful and unfeminine, and it is expected for her to blend in and know her place, just as the woman in the art pieces unwillingly blended in with the city life,” Van Tonder said.
“Women tend to lose their sense of self while in relationships with men. We let male dominating figures determine how we should act, think or respond to life, but we need to claim back our power and not allow the buildings in our lives to overpower us.”
The intention of the exhibition, she said, is to show that one can overcome the fear of coming to a new place or environment, to deal with the challenges of change and yet never losing oneself.
Details: Lynette Van Tonder, 082 688 0279; e-mail info@lynettevantonder-art.co.za; www.lynettevantonder-art.co.za; or visit her Facebook page
The online exhibition can be viewed by clicking here.
