Wondering

“The Abstract Expressionism of everyday life” – Marcel Pedragosa

From a world that exists as instants of fluctuating possibility, Cape Town-based Syndi Kahn extracts moments of unadulterated wonder in her new collection of luminous paintings.

Using her own photographs as well as found imagery, Kahn captures a series of figures deeply engrossed in unfolding moments. In ‘A Dream No One Can See’ a girl waves a bright sparkler; in ‘Lost for Words’ a boy grasps something glowing indistinctly close to himself. It is not always clear what is happening in the scenes, but the introverted reverie of the narratives draws us into the pure, present moment.

Drawing on long-exposure and bokeh photography as inspiration, there is a sense of visible shift in the softly blurred lines of her painted portraits. This creates movement and ambiguity. Kahn refers in particular to Manhattan street photographer Saul Leiter as a photographic muse. In her own work we can see the same attentiveness paid to the quietly mundane that makes Leiter’s work memorable. Kahn also cites Japanese photographer Rinko Kawauchi and her lyrical but minimal imagery. Reviewing ‘Wondering’, we see Kahn focus on similarly ordinary yet serene reflections, which honour the importance of imagination and awe in the everyday.

In a movement away from her previous abstractions, Kahn’s foray into figurative painting connects the viewers to the works, as we are intrigued by what is unfolding. The artist comments that “by purposefully not attempting to recreate perfection in these images I have left the elements and the message open to the viewer’s interpretation”. The sense of enigma is heightened by the series’ saturated colour, with most pieces being composed of shades in a single colour. This monochromatic colour palette does not allow for distraction from each instant, and underlines their significance. 

With ‘Wondering’, Kahn observes: “I am sharing the beauty and mystery of everyday life”. 

Winter Show

Everard Read Cape Town

presents

Winter – A Group Exhibition

12 June – 19 July 2019

Everard Read CT presents a group exhibition of paintings and sculpture by a selection of artists, including

Sanell Aggenbach, Philip Barlow, Deborah Bell, Nic Bladen, Arabella Caccia, Hanien Conradie, Ferdi B. Dick, Ricky Dyaloyi, Liza Grobler, Swain Hoogervorst, Syndi Kahn, Turiya Magadlela, Io Makandal, Lucinda Mudge, Brett Murray, Velaphi Mzimba, Daniel Naudé, Tracy Payne, Caryn Scrimgeour, Brett Charles Seiler, Skubalisto, Lionel Smit, Angus Taylor, Andrzej Urbanski, Shany van den Berg, Elize Vossgatter & Barbara Wildenboer

Summer Show

SUMMER
Dec 4, 2018 – Jan 4, 2019

The downstairs gallery space at the Everard Read will be exhibiting our annual Summer Group Show.
Opening on the 4^th December at 18:30, this varied exhibition will rotate during the month and concludes on the 4^th January 2019.
It will showcase artworks by both emerging and established local & international artists.

Summer Exhibition

Everard Read London presents:

SUMMER Exhibition

16 August – 7 September 2018

Everard Read London presents a group show by artists living and working in South Africa or with a strong connection to the country.

The exhibition encompasses paintings and sculpture by 25 participating artists.

Winter

Everard Read / CIRCA is proud to present WINTER. A group exhibition of new works by emerging and established local and international artists which will be exhibited over both Everard Read and CIRCA Galleries in Cape Town. Please join us for the opening on the 14^th June 2018 at 18:30.

The exhibition concludes on 11th July 2018.

nano- 1.2

A concept of relative simplicity, nano- 1.2 invited artists to zoom in, scale down, shrink, condense, encapsulate and compact; submitting works no larger than 20 x 20 cm. The exhibition is an opportunity to play with scale, to explore what effects it has for both artist and viewer, and what new parameters it may set for the curator and the gallery space.

Smaller works immediately require and create a greater intimacy with the viewer, compelling us to come closer, look closer, stay longer. While large, expansive works keep us at a distance, smaller works activate interiority and introspection. They require a sharper focus, a keener gaze, a lingering attention.  Playing into our fascination with the miniature, small works conjure whimsy, a sense of the magical, a playfulness. But profundity need not be reserved only for the grandiose, and by requiring an economy of expression from the artist, smaller works are also often surprisingly affecting and impactful.

05.06.18 – 10.07.18
Barnard Gallery