Armstrong’s work, In Perpetuum
JOBURG — This exhibition presents Beth Diane Armstrong's work as a continuously self-generating system driven by the interplay between density and looseness.
One of the leading contemporary South African sculptors of her generation, Beth Diane Armstrong is back with her new exhibition titled, In Perpetuum.
This is a sculptural exhibition centred on contrasting variations of density and looseness. Accompanying her 2017 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Visual Art, the exhibition highlights Armstrong’s use of sculpture to explore different expressions of these two terms in relation to scale, structure, materiality, space, representation and process.
The phrase in perpetuum can be loosely defined as something that is ongoing or forever. Much like the phrase, Armstrong’s exhibition, as the title suggests, refers to negotiating an unremitting pull between the desire to be entirely overwhelmed and subsumed by a sculpture and the drive to resolve and contain the idiosyncratic challenges posed by it.
Mandie van der Spuy, independent arts consultant and member of the National Arts Festival Artistic Committee for Visual Art said, “Beth has a strong intellectual approach to her work, which has identified her as a leading sculptor in her generation of younger artists.
“Her work has matured over the past few years and although she has exhibited predominantly monumental works made of steel and aluminum, her creativity extends to include a variety of different media ranging from printmaking, video, photography and drawing to temporary installations.”
Van der Spuy also said the ambitious scale of many of Armstrong’s large projects has positioned her alongside several of her South African fellow sculptors.
Taken as a whole, In Perpetuum presents Armstrong’s work as a continuously self-generating system driven by the interplay between density and looseness.
The Standard Bank Gallery – located on the corner of Simmonds and Frederick streets in central Johannesburg – offers free, safe undercover parking on the corner of Harrison and Frederick streets.
Gallery hours: Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 4.30pm, and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Entrance to the exhibition is free.
The Standard Bank Gallery will be open on the first Thursday evenings during the exhibition. For further info please contact 011 631 4467
First Thursday Date: 7 September.
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