FREE SPIRIT

OOP LAGOS is proud to present Free Spirit, a group exhibition curated by Otsholeng Poo featuring three Southern African artists, Grace Nyahangare, Mavis Tauzeni and Simhle Plaatjies. The show is an artistic expression that transcends borders through a compelling collection of paintings and drawings.

There are eight exhibits on show, largely surreal in depiction and expressing personal thoughts and ideas drawn from the artists’ experiences while situating their existence within the intricacies of relationship otherness and socio-cultural framework. There is an inevitable preponderance of the female gender as standpoint from which several convictions are asserted, although not necessarily with a feminist mien.

Grace Nyahangare’s paintings make an analogy between the stages of her creative process and the metamorphoses in her life from a young girl to young woman, and now a young mother. Her exposure to diverse societies, i.e her homeland Zimbabwe, and UAE where she had lived and worked for three years, fully impacted her aesthetic and ideas about herself as a person, and also a young parent as she seeks to become reconciled to her space. Detachment, reflection and recomposition marry the ideas that Grace explores in her dynamically passionate canvases.

_{Grace Nyahangare, Outer Ego, 2023, Oil, printer’s ink and monotype on canvas, 59 x 59 inches}

Mavis Tauzeni speaks unapologetically from a woman’s perspective and constantly reflects on the mutable relationship between a woman and her potential in daily and life cycle. Her eclectic paintings laced with imagery underlines the power of the woman as life-giver and accesses the spiritual, connecting it to the physical. Tauzeni upholds thoroughness in her practice, which means commitment to results and immediacy. This is why Tauzeni often describes her works as experiments. Working with her arsenal of stitching, spray paint, stencilling, card print, collage as well as painting, she achieves infinitely engaging and compassionate compositions.

_{Mavis Tauzeni, Sisterhood, 2023, Stitching, card print, collage, oil spray paint and acrylic on canvas, 68 x 96 inches}

Simhle Plaatjies’ mixed-media works are inspired by her diverse experiences as a model, athlete, performer and entrepreneur, and she explores the intersection of art with the aforementioned areas. A self-taught artist, her large oil pastel works project powerful African figures, and pander to traditional and supernatural beliefs. She highlights the strength and resilience of the woman and uses her several achievements as an inspiration to not only women, but everyone with an intent to excel in the face of uncomplimentary societal boundaries.

_{Simhle Plaatjies, Nomoyi, 2023, Oil pastel and stencilling on cardboard, 70 x 53 inches}

Free Spirit, in conclusion, is a dedication to artistic triumph of creative women and to all in their various endeavours rising above societal encumbrances to realise their full potentials.

 

The exhibition is supported by ASAFO & CO. Absolut. IsiVini and First Floor Gallery Harare.

 

For more information and to request a price list, e-mail Otsholeng Poo; ooplagos@gmail.com.