‘Delicate Thorns’ at the Bellhaus

The satirical and socially conscious frames of Chris Johnston’s photography meet the elegant and fragile lines of Jacqui van Vuuren’s ceramics in ‘Delicate Thorns’.

Juxtaposing two long-time friends and artists dissimilar in both medium and subject matter at the Bellhaus Atelier and Galerie, the exhibition is named to underscore the contrast between Van Vuuren’s fine ceramic creations and the often sharp nature of Johnston’s photographic commentary.

In Van Vuuren’s offering, which features a collection of beautifully wrought earrings, tulip vases, a pink anemone teapot and a gold ringed spirit bowl, the artist’s experience of the wider world is rendered in calm yet colourful gradients that recall nature.

“The ceramic body of work I created for this exhibition was largely inspired by my recent trip to The Netherlands and the United Kingdom,” says Van Vuuren in her artist’s statement.

“The unusual flower and colour combinations of the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, antiquities of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Delft porcelain, the elegance and refinement of manor house gardens in England and Roman-British pottery played an active part in the vibrant, yet gentile layers represented in these porcelain vessels.”

Connoting simplicity, leisure, refinement and a state of being that allows for some fragility, Van Vuuren’s collection complements but differs from the work of Johnston, whose photography is a diverse selection of satire, portraiture, landscapes, conceptual photography and homage.

In a series titled ‘Weapons of Mass Destruction’, Johnston takes aim at religion and political manifestos. Presenting seminal texts from Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith, as well as ‘Manifesto of the Communist Party’ by Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, Johnston suggests that these religious and political writings have often been used to sow discord, disharmony and destruction.

Though Johnston draws attention to some darker aspects of humanity in a series of satirical business cards for the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Bill Cosby, the photographer is also adept at capturing the world’s beauty.

An image of a lightning strike, a portrait of an older woman laughing, a hazy boudoir shot, a homage to ‘American Gothic’, apparent evidence of alien abduction and a photograph of the artist himself, dancing, all speak to a holistic and often humour-infused world view.

“I am a man of few words when it comes to my art. My work is my statement. I ‘speak’ a visual language conveying messages that words cannot be specific enough to capture,” says Johnston in his artist statement.

“I consider myself to be a photographic generalist leaning towards visual puns, portraiture and social commentary. My perspective on my works is not important, what is important to me is how they resonate with you, the viewer,” he says.

“And remember, to look is easy but to see is a different story.”

‘Delicate Thorns’ will be on display at Bellhaus Atelier and Galerie until 10 August.

– martha@namibian.com.na; Martha Mukaiwa on Twitter and Instagram; marthamukaiwa.com