Artwork

UGLY-BEAUTIFUL "Identity Retrospection"

2022 Competition entry

Detail
Tags

Xola Sello

Details:
Not Signed
Pen and nails on wood, etching on Perspex
77cm x 43,5cm x 9cm
R16 000.00
Description:
Creating a shared national identity for the new multiracial democracy in South Africa has inspired ongoing debate. Is there a common identity that all South Africans can claim?

This work explores and attempts to show people that what they think and or have been suggested to be their weaknesses are actually their strengths.

Some time ago, I noticed that most people, or perhaps everyone, have something on their body (distortions) that they are most unlikely comfortable to expose and they cannot deal with in their daily life. Some people turn to find it comforting to criticize others of their weaknesses (distortions) as a way of trying to escape their own.

Formal or legal apartheid may be dead, but the legacy of apartheid remains.

So just like rusted/ rusting metal, if it is not taken care of in time, and get polished, it will rust, affecting other parts and will end up demolished turning to dust. This same theory applies to human nature and perception. The sooner we start to mentally reject our being and allow judgement and rejection from other individuals define us, we result into having depression which, in most cases, leads to death.

So in portraying this matter I have found it interesting to use material that is fragile or have a fragile sense. For instance, Perspex looks like glass, wood can be used to produce paper which can burn easily and rusted nails have a sense of fragility.

Pen Etch Nails Paint Perspex

Detail
Tags

Xola Sello

Details:
Not Signed
Pen and nails on wood, etching on Perspex
77cm x 43,5cm x 9cm
R16 000.00

Description:
Creating a shared national identity for the new multiracial democracy in South Africa has inspired ongoing debate. Is there a common identity that all South Africans can claim?

This work explores and attempts to show people that what they think and or have been suggested to be their weaknesses are actually their strengths.

Some time ago, I noticed that most people, or perhaps everyone, have something on their body (distortions) that they are most unlikely comfortable to expose and they cannot deal with in their daily life. Some people turn to find it comforting to criticize others of their weaknesses (distortions) as a way of trying to escape their own.

Formal or legal apartheid may be dead, but the legacy of apartheid remains.

So just like rusted/ rusting metal, if it is not taken care of in time, and get polished, it will rust, affecting other parts and will end up demolished turning to dust. This same theory applies to human nature and perception. The sooner we start to mentally reject our being and allow judgement and rejection from other individuals define us, we result into having depression which, in most cases, leads to death.

So in portraying this matter I have found it interesting to use material that is fragile or have a fragile sense. For instance, Perspex looks like glass, wood can be used to produce paper which can burn easily and rusted nails have a sense of fragility.

Pen Etch Nails Paint Perspex