PRESS RELEASE
MANDY JOHNSTON: Conduit
Sep 4 – Sep 25, 2024
Everard Read Cape Town is pleased to present Conduit, a solo exhibition by Mandy Johnston.
In her latest body of work, Cape Town artist Mandy Johnston uses sculptural forms in copper, steel and bronze, as well as paintings, to explore the cathartic power of fire both literally and figuratively. By incorporating fire as an additional medium in her work, Johnston subverts the traditional understanding of materials, expressing the fragility of all things.
She explains:
‘Where I live, on the South Peninsula of the Western Cape, there are seasonal wildfires that simultaneously give and take life. These fires threaten and destroy homes, and compromise the food sources of local wildlife – but they are absolutely necessary for the rejuvenation of local ecosystems. Fire is essential for the survival of fynbos. Protea plants, for instance, are dependent on this cycle; fire triggers the release of their seeds. The seed then benefits from the nutrient-rich soil created by the fire. Almost reverently, no new protea grows on the exact site of its predecessor. Their absences are reminders of these catastrophic yet life-affirming events.
‘Just as the fynbos relies on fire for growth, we often need to relinquish the remnants of the past in order to progress. Rebirth is not possible without release. Our bodies, in this metaphor, are the conduits through which our thoughts and experiences traverse, embodying both our role as active navigators of our lives and passengers within our physical forms.
‘Life within or as part of an organism is the only universal experience that connects all living things. What sets humanity apart from other organisms is the ability to imagine, choose and create. If the question is survival in an uncertain future, I think the answer can be found through the lens of regeneration versus mere expiration. One that is not based in fear or ignorance, but rather in acceptance of the cyclical nature of existence.’
Join the gallery to experience this collection of work.
Burns will take place on the following dates:
Wednesday 4th September - 19.00
Saturday 14th September - 11.00
Opening reception: Wednesday 4th September - 18.00
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Installation images by Michael Hall
