By Nosihle Mthembu and Talent Tembe
Non-Site Art Collective, a three-member collective of artists, is currently exhibiting the work of artists who all have different art pieces in paint, resin and thread at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts Gallery in Durban.
Artists Adelheid Frackiewicz, Davina de Beer and Franli Meintjes make up the collective.
The exhibition, which opened on 2 August and will run until 25 August, has become a platform for artists to showcase their work and attract art enthusiasts.
One of the organisers of the exhibition Meintjes explained the idea behind her art: “With this new work, I kind of ventured back into 2D kind of on-the-wall work, making it a little more abstractional, not so organic shaped with the moving combined with that.”
She said that she desired to create an immersive installation, where the person looking at it will feel like they are in a different world. She plans to do a bigger installation with things growing from the floor that will generate curiosity.
She added that her artworks are influenced by her past experiences and that painting serves as a means of expressing her feelings and emotions.
“Teeth are very interesting, but I thought about teeth in terms of belonging in two places, like being rooted somewhere, and when you are uprooted and have to leave. I was working with my ancestors who had to move to South Africa and how they were uprooted during World War II,” she said.
Andiswa Langa, a fashion designer and art enthusiast, said: “It’s really beautiful. I’m looking at art pieces here, and I’m like how did you do that? It’s amazing to see her (Meintjes) growth as an artist. I know her from Pretoria, and that was 10 years ago.”
Another art lover, Aphiwe Mgoqi, said that for her, art evokes deep emotions. “Seeing these pictures, studying the art and engaging with the artists has me captivated. There was an exhibition about losing yourself, finding yourself and belonging; it evoked so many memories for me.”
