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Water, the [Delicate] Thread of Life

‘Water, the [Delicate] Thread of Life’, sets out to navigate a course through the many wonders and complexities of water and to challenge the way we think about and respond to one of the most precious substances on earth. This unique exhibition seeks to bring home just how fragile and tenuous life on earth would be without sustainable water resources. Through the eyes, minds and creative endeavours of South African artists, it shows how integral and fundamental water is to life. Water is indeed the delicate thread on which life depends.

The exhibition, dedicated to “the lifeblood of all life forms on earth”, comprises work by a host of artists, such as Deborah Bell, Penny Siopis, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, Jackson Hlungwani, Walter Oltmann, Norman Catherine, William Kentridge, Georgie Papageorge, Simon Max Bannister, Alan Crump, David Goldblatt, Andrew Verster, Noria Mabasa, Strijdom van der Merwe, Moshekwa Langa, Marcus Neustetter and Durant Sihlali. Through their collective artworks, the exhibition traces water’s role on earth, from sustaining life and fuelling economies to its presence in belief systems, religions and rituals.

A number of works have been commissioned specifically for this exhibition, including Willem Boshoff’s Walking on Water (2011) and a unique piece by Karel Nel. Boshoff’s Walking on Water plays off the multiple interpretations of the word ‘water’, as he ingeniously combines notions of the Christian religion with science and technology to summon a warning against the abuse of clean water resources. Nel’s site-specific installation, Reflective Field (2011), explores the space between knowing and not knowing, the inexplicable realm symbolised in his work by reflections of water against the gallery ceiling in what the artist describes as a “scientific exploration of divination”.

Other themes covered in ‘Water, the [Delicate] Thread of Life’ include the shocking devastation caused by floods (Andrew Verster and Noria Mabasa); drought conditions and severe water shortages in South Africa (Strijdom van der Merwe); the consequences of drought and thoughtless human intervention when it comes to water, particularly as it affects the poor (Moshekwa Langa); and the humanitarian consequences of water-related disasters (Marcus Neustetter and Durant Sihlali).

The artworks on this exhibition show how water touches every facet of our lives. However, life on earth is threatened by the unsustainable use and abuse of limited clean water resources. In general, the message of ‘Water, the [Delicate] Thread of Life’ is that it may not be too late to adopt a new approach towards water, a vital, fragile and miraculous substance. With creative interventions and a collective commitment to preserve and nurture our natural environment there can be a promise of new beginnings.

The exhibition is curated by Marion Dixon, a freelance art curator and author, and is accompanied by a catalogue.

To read more, download the full educational supplement on Water, the [Delicate] Thread of Life below:

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