Dreamsweepers - a solo exhibition by Nomusa Makhubu

Dreamsweepers, a solo exhibition by Nomusa Makhubu, opens at Artspace Gallery in Rosebank, Johannesburg on 17 July 2010 at 11h00.

Through a body of photographic works, Dreamsweepers seeks to disentangle the symbolism that appears in dreams and the extent to which visualizing them on paper really captures them. Makhubu says, "Having worked mainly with portraiture, this body of work has been a new exploration into digital collage for me. It delves into the fiction and realism that makes up dreamscapes."

The images were taken at different times and in different contexts without the initial intention of putting them together. Parts from whole images were taken and combined with others to create dreamscapes and then the aim was to be able to read a new narrative into them. "They are, therefore, from a personal archive." Oftentimes, sometimes with and sometimes without intention, some symbols recur and seem to dominate. "The water, for instance, has been a persistent feature in my dreams and in the images. Taking flight is another feature. These new narratives, as they were being constructed, became laden with fears, frustration and disquiet. Their narratives were always changing." The world of dreams is one which is mysterious and fascinating where the rules of reality do not apply. Makhubu has captured the mystery and fascination in this new body of work.

Makhubu was first introduced to Artspace in 2008 when she participated in the Artspace Mentorship Programme under the mentorship of artist Tanya Poole. The programme was launched by Artspace Gallery in 2008 with the aim to expose new visual artists who have previously had little or no exposure to the market. Mentors and mentees work together on the mentees's conceptual development and execution of a new body of work for a professional exhibition. Makhubu worked under the guidance of her mentor Tanya Poole to present a show entitled Hollywood, Bollywood, Nollywood.

Makhubu is currently reading towards a PhD in Art History and Visual Culture. She has exhibited in South Africa, France, Germany, Italy, Swaziland and Reunion Island after receiving the ABSA L'Atelier Gerard Sekoto Award in 2006 as well as the Rhodes Amnesty International Woman of the Year Award (Art). Makhubu was nominated as the presenting artist for the Business Day: Business and Art South Africa (BASA) Awards in 2008. She became an Abe Bailey fellow in 2008 which involved a travel bursary to the United Kingdom which aims to effect co-operation and understanding among those with various language and cultural backgrounds.

The exhibition runs until the 07 August 2010.

Please join us at the opening for a glass of wine and to meet the artist.

Gallery hours: Tues- Fri 10h00-17h30
Saturday 10h00 - 15h30

The exhibition closes on the 19 June 2010
For more information about the exhibition:
Artspace
011 880 8802
Artspace@wol.co.za
www.artspace_jhb.co.za

For media enquiries:
Taryn Cohn
083 6715139
taryncohn@artsourcesouthafrica.co.za