(This post is in German. It announces our exhibition opening on the 28th of May, in Berlin. If you are interested to attend and would like more information in English, please leave a comment or contact me via email. Thank you!)
Begrüßung: Petra Schröck / Jürgen Becker, Deutsch-Namibische Gesellschaft Grußwort: S. E. Andreas B. D. Guibeb, Botschafter der Republik Namibia Musik: Elemotho & Samuel Batola (Namibia)
Die Künstlerin Imke Rust wird anwesend sein.
Die BrotfabrikGalerie präsentiert in Kooperation mit der Deutsch-Namibischen Gesellschaft zwei Künstlerinnen aus Namibia, die sich in unterschiedlicher künstlerischer Weise mit der Wüste Namib und dem Trockenfluss Kuiseb auseinandersetzen.
Die Designerin und Fotografin Xenia Ivanoff-Erb wurde in Südafrika als Tochter einer Deutschen und eines russischen Don-Kosaken, Victor Ivanoff (Künstler, Karikaturist und Sänger), geboren und wuchs in einem von der Kunst geprägten Umfeld auf. Seit 2012 in Swakopmund/Namibia, hinterlässt sie im künstlerischen Leben des Landes zunehmend ihre eigenen, vor allem fotografischen Spuren, ob in Zeitschriften oder Ausstellungen. Als ihr letzter Erfolg gilt die Foto-Schau „Namibia Inspirations“, mit der sie zum Jahreswechsel 2015 / 2016 ein breites Publikum begeisterte.
„KUISEB Namibia“ ist ihre erste Werkschau in Deutschland. Sie gab der Ausstellung ihren Namen und schreibt dazu: „Etwas versteckt, verborgen in unserem ‘Hinterhof‘, dem großen Sandkasten Namib, liegt ein grüner, baumumsäumter Streifen, der Trockenfluss Kuiseb. Eine faszinierende Vielfalt an großartigen Landschaftsformen und eine besondere Tierwelt bieten dem interessierten Naturfreund besondere Anregung. Doch kommen wir auch beinahe bei jedem unserer Sonntags-Ausflüge in Berührung mit den Nachfahren eines tausende Jahre alten Nomaden-Stammes. Kaum eine Stunde im Auto von Swakopmund entfernt führen heute einige hundert Leute vom alten Volk der Topnaar-Nama ein relativ einfaches, bescheiden-glückliches Leben.“
Die namibische Künstlerin Imke Rust wuchs in Swakopmund an der Küste Namibias auf und verbrachte dort einen großen Teil ihres Lebens. Dadurch entwickelte sie eine besondere Beziehung und Faszination zur Wüste Namib, in der auch der Kuiseb als Trockenfluss liegt. Vor allem die Widersprüchlichkeiten des Landes und der Wüste haben Imke Rust schon seit ihrer Jugend beschäftigt. Ihre Malereien zeigen kein gewöhnliches Wüstenbild. Vielmehr drückt sie mit ihrer eigenwilligen Bildsprache, Farbgebung und Technik eine Vielfalt an inneren Eindrücken und Gefühlen darüber aus, was Wüste für sie bedeutet.
Beim ersten Eindruck einer Wüste denkt man schnell, hier sei ja nichts außer Sand. Nach genauerem Hinschauen entdeckt man vieles mehr: Leben, Schönheit, Mythen. Aber auch den wundersamen Tanz mit dem Tod. Imke Rust gibt einen Einblick in die Abgründe der Wüste und die der menschlichen Seele. Ihre Bilder laden dazu ein, die tieferen und größeren Zusammenhänge, die in den Sedimentlagen unter der Oberfläche versteckt sind, in unser Bewusstsein zu bringen.
„Durch Gier und Machtanspruch spielt der Mensch in dem sehr sensiblen Ökosystem Wüste eine schwerwiegende und oft besorgniserregende Rolle. Aber auch wenn wir mit allen Mitteln versuchen, die Wüste zu beherrschen, stoßen wir dabei immer wieder auf unsere eigenen Grenzen. Wir werden uns unserer Schattenseiten, unserer Vergänglichkeit bewusst – spüren, dass wir nur ein weiteres, kleines Korn in einer großen Wüste sind.“ (Imke Rust)
Das Ausstellungsprojekt wird von der Senatskanzlei Berlin im Rahmen der Städtepartnerschaft Berlin-Windhoek gefördert.
***
Ich freue mich darauf, euch persönlich begrüssen zu dürfen! Und JA, meine Bilder können bei dieser Gelegenheit gekauft werden!
Diese Einladung darf gerne weitergeleitet und geteilt werden. Xenia und ich freuen uns über viele interessierte Besucher.
Text zu den Arbeiten von Imke Rust, die in dieser Ausstellung gezeigt werden. (Bitte auf das Bild klicken um eine größere Darstellung zu sehen)
Weitere Information auf den Internet-Seiten der Brotfabrik http://www.brotfabrik-berlin.de und der Deutsch-Namibischen Gesellschaft www.dngev.de . Und vielleicht möchte auch jemand auf die Ankündigung der Ausstellung durch das Süd-Afrika Magazin im Internet schauen: http://www.sued-afrika.de/
I have been invited to participate in the International Land Art Maastricht 2016 Symposium along with 13 other artists from the Euregio.
For one week we are creating land art works in the park of the Chateau Jerusalem in Maastricht and we are having a lot of fun.
On Saturday (14th of May, 16:00) everybody is invited to view the results of this symposium at the official opening of the exhibition. If you are nearby I would love to see you and show you the works that have been created. More information in the flyer below. (Click on image to see a larger version).
Invitation ILAM 2016
And here you can see some images of the symposium and work in progress: (Please click on the images to see a larger view and descriptions)
Hair everywhere….
Braiding my african fake hair and my own dyed hair together
Working in the green park, mediative braiding…
My work in progress
Imke Rust: work in progress
Detail view
Uta and Marjo in the bushes
artists at work
Break
Natahsa at work
Uta viewing my work
View…
Urban at work
Barbara at work
Carla at work
Taking a break
artists at work
It has been raining and Barbara has become an african look-alike
Dinner – yummy
After the work…
Uta fishing in the lake
Emmy, Sjoerd at the presentations
Uta presenting her work
Mirijam and me at the presentations
Mirijam, Natasha, Emmy and Barbara at the presentations
Blue Sphere 2, carefully allowed installation in the branches between two trees in the forest, by Imke Rust
Creation is about allowing
– not about going out and doing.
Recently I found this quote and it made me stop in my tracks. Coming from a society and background where doing is considered the highest virtue, this thought seemed so out-of-place and plain presumptuous. Yet, I could not dismiss it, as it also stirred something deep inside of me.
For one, I realised some time ago, that doing is not always the answer. I have written about this idea before HERE.
But even more importantly I was struck by the ‘allowing’ part. When we grow up, our life is filled and directed with an endless list of do’s and don’ts… In my younger years, I was convinced if I just learn this list and follow it to perfection, I would be happy, and so would be everybody around me. Because I was doing things right… Later in life, I realised that this list became more and more complicated and it was not always possible to separate clearly between the do’s and don’ts. This realisation was confusing and also depressing, because my neatly arranged roadmap to life seemed to be crumbling and I had nothing to hold on to anymore that would guide me along.
Allowing…
Wow, what a big concept.
In life. In creativity. In love. In believes.
What would happen if we allowed more and were less constricted by the do’s and don’ts?
Allowing… the creative process of the universe, of life, to happen, without the need to control it.
It is a difficult concept to grasp (at least for me). And I guess I will be allowing myself to ponder on this much more. And allowing the creative process more and more, instead of trying to go out and ‘doing’.
And as if the universe wanted to let me know that it was serious about this, it send some sunshine on Saturday and nudged me to go out and explore a new part of the forest. Allowing myself a break, with no responsibilities or work to do. I was so deeply touched by the spirit of the forest, the cold, fresh air, nature’s first slow attempts at spring coming, the sunlight playing hide and seek and the majesty of the trees…
I took some pictures. And when I arrived home and downloaded them onto the computer, I realised that without any intention or doing on my part, a special moment was created and captured. Yes, it is just the flare of sunlight hitting my camera, but it is also magical. As if a sphere of blue light has been installed perfectly between the trees… and documented.
If you just allow yourself to imagine that this was a carefully created art installation.
Blue Sphere 1 & 2, carefully allowed installation in the branches between two trees in the forest, by Imke Rust
Here are some upcoming events, where you can see or experience my art:
One of my artworks (Happy Mongoose, 2015, Mixed Media on Canvas, 112 x 145cm) has been selected for the Art Inside Project and exhibition at the National Art Gallery of Namibia. You are welcome to the opening this week Thursday! If you cannot make it then, the exhibition runs till the 23rd of April 2016.
Happy Mongoose
OPENING DATE 24 March 2016 OPENING TIME 18:00 VIEWING 24 March – 23 April 2016 VENUE NAGN
Press information about the project and exhibition from the National Art Gallery of Namibia:
“The project Art Inside, which was first launched in 2014, is a nationwide art awareness project aimed at Namibian Government. The initiative aims at acquiring original Namibian visual art for installation in all Ministries and semi-government premises. By installing the artworks, the project aims to celebrate visual art as an important mode of creative communication, and to foster an appreciation for visual art as inherent part of government’s working environment.
In the previous editions Namibian artists from all Regions have responded positively by submitting inspiring art and craftwork of an exceptional quality for this project. From these, the best pieces were first exhibited at the NAGN and then purchased for the Government of Namibia Art Collection.
The Art inside 2016 exhibition will run from 24th March to 23rd April 2016 at the National Gallery of Namibia.”
*************
And save the date if you are in Germany and interested to participate in a special Land Art Workshop which I am offering in conjunction with the Fair Camp Berlin program:
Wann: So. 24. April 2016, ca. 13 bis 18 Uhr inkl. Mittagessen, Wo: bei Oranienburg
Die FÜLLE in Dir: Raus in die Natur! Rein in die Seele. Sehnen sie sich auch nach neuem Ausdruck, Natur und kreativem Schaffen? Der Frühling ist die perfekte Zeit auch unsere Seele aufblühen zu lassen und neue Impulse in unser Leben zu bringen. Lust auf etwas Neues und eine Auszeit vom Alltag? Dann lade ich sie herzlich ein, gemeinsam mit mir die Fülle, ihre Kreativität und die Natur neu zu entdecken. Wir kreieren, gestalten und experimentieren mit und in der Natur und lernen dabei unsere eigene innere Fülle und die der Natur bewusster zu erleben und auszudrücken.
Sie brauchen keine Vorkenntnisse, nur Offenheit, Freude an der Natur und Lust sich auszuprobieren. Als deutsch-namibische multimediale Künstlerin und Regenmacherin freue mich darauf, sie dabei zu begleiten und inspirieren zu dürfen. Imke Rust
Dieser Workshop ist der Arbeit in und mit der Natur gewidmet. Aber vor allem soll er die spielerische Kreativität, den persönlichen Ausdruck und die Freude am Schaffensprozess anregen. Wir werden die meiste Zeit draußen im Wald verbringen. Falls das Wetter nicht mitspielt, arbeiten wir mit Naturmaterialien im Atelier. Alles ist in kurzer Laufentfernung.
Bei Ankunft gibt es ein Mittagsmahl, eine Spende von Wünsch Dir Mahl. Wasser, Saft und Kekse für zwischendurch stehen bereit.
Once again apologies to my English followers, as I am now posting an interview in German, which we had today in the German Radio in Namibia.
Heute waren Steffen und ich beim Deutschen Hörfunk der Namibian Broadcasting Cooperation (NBC) und wurden im Auftakt zu der Namibia Premiere unseres Filmes von Ralf Boll interviewt.
Wer es ‚live’ verpasst hat, kann sich hier das Interview noch einmal anhören. Es gibt eine kurze Filmkritik und dann ein recht launiges Gespräch mit dem super Moderator Ralf Boll.
Um das Interview zu hören, bitte einfach oben Start drücken.
Der Film wird morgen am 14ten Januar im Goethe Institut in Windhoek gezeigt. Wir freuen uns, wenn die Einblicke in unser Leben und Schaffen euch neugierig machen. Lasst euch diese (einzige) Filmvorführung in Namibia nicht entgehen.
Ralf Boll, Steffen Holzkamp und Imke Rust im Studio 5 der NBC, Deutscher Hörfunk Namibia. (13 Januar 2016)
(Sorry to all English subscribers, today I reblog an Afrikaans review about our film which will be screened tomorrow, 14th January, at the Goethe Institut in Windhoek @ 19h15)
En nou vir die van julle wat Afrikaans praat, ‘n Film Revue in Afrikaans van die wonderlike Daniël Bezuidenhout a.k.a Thulana wat met haar woorde en taal kan toor.
Lees gerus ook ‘n bietjie van haar ander blog posts, so mooi geskryf met ‘n wonderlike sin vir humor en interessante stories oor haar lewe in Ghana.
Dankie Daniël!
“Elkeen van ons wat soos ‘n volstruis met sy kop in die sand staan, en vertrou die regering sal na al jou belange omsien, moet ‘n slag staan en wonder hoe goed dit uitgewerk het vir die Boesmans.
In ‘n aangrypende artistiese dokumentêr, “An Infinite Scream”, kry die Imke Rust jou kop uit die sand. …lees meer hier
Firstly I wish you all a very happy, adventurous, creative, healthy and awesome 2016!
I hope this will be the year where you make your dreams come true, create the reality that you want to see and find joy and gratitude in your everyday life. That is my motto, not only for the New Year, but for every new day. And added to that, I want to push myself every day to creatively and fearlessly express who I am. How about you? What are your visions and desires for 2016?
I have been quiet on the blog for some time… I am spending time at home in Namibia, with my family, meeting friends, relaxing and creating. Basically replenishing my soul and soaking up the sunshine, warmth and familiarity of home.
Clarissa, my cat, inspecting the last painting I have done in 2015 – an impression of a wild mongoose who visits us daily.
Home. Returning to Namibia after almost two years of absence has stirred my mind and body in interesting ways. I realise that finally our house in Germany feels more like a home to me, while Namibia and my family home here, where I have spend so many years of my life, has moved into an uneasy place of feeling powerfully familiar and at the same time somewhat distanced. Things have changed, things have stayed the same. I have changed and grown. I am curious to see how my life and I will evolve in the future.
Finally we will be presenting ‘An Infinite Scream’ – my husband, Steffen Holzkamp’s documentary film about my land art project – in Namibia! On home turf so to say.
It took some time before Namibians can finally see the film and obviously I am curious and nervous as to how it will be received. So I (and Steffen) hope that if you are in Windhoek on the 14th of January you will join us at 19h15 at the Goethe Institut. (it is FREE!!!)
By the way, Namibia only had a Goethe Centre up till now, but since 2016 everybody is very excited to have it turned into a Goethe Institut. We feel very honoured that one of the first official events in the new Institut will the Namibian Premiere of our film.
Why would you see the film? Well, if you are interested in nature, environment, the desert, Namibia and/or the arts, or if you simply like me or what I am doing, then this film offers you a unique and thought-provoking view. Some serious and some fun.
It is more than a documentary.
It is an artist portrait and a project portrait. It is a reflection on what individuals can do to make the world a slightly better place. It is a beautiful mix of art, nature, society and action…
Most people only ever see the final exhibition and have no idea how it came about. If you have ever wondered how artists think, why and how they create and all the things that happen behind the scene, before you get to sip your wine at the exhibition opening, this film will give you a lot of insight into my personal way of creating.
I know I might be biased in more than one way, but I do think there is a certain magic happening when you have a very talented filmmaker and musician, who happens to know you well enough to perfectly reflect your ideas and works through his film.
This film was not planned to be a film. When I started out with my work, I simply thought it would be awesome to have the making of the individual pieces documented and fortunately Steffen was happy to do that for me. Only later, when the exhibition finally happened, after the original venue had suddenly rejected it, Steffen had the idea to turn all his filmed material into a documentary… and spend about a year on this labour of love. Thank you so much, Steffen, for all your hard work and dedication, for your beautiful pictures, music and your vision to pull this all together.
So if you are curious, we warmly invite you to come and see it.
It is not only free of charge, but you also get the chance to meet up with us and ask us questions afterwards 🙂
We are looking forward to meeting you there.
Please also feel free to share this information and invite your friends along. After all, the more the merrier.
Namibia Premiere: An Infinite Scream (Poster)
Concerned about the ever-increasing uranium mining in Namibia a local artist sets out to give the Namib Desert a voice: An Infinite Scream
The Goethe Institut proudly presents the Namibian Premiere of a documentary film about Imke Rust’s land art by Steffen Holzkamp.
Date: 14th of January 2016
Time: 19h15 (Duration: 45min)
Venue: Goethe Institut, 1-5 Fidel Castro Street
Free Entry
Artist and filmmaker are present.
And I realise that I have been neglecting this blog a bit, with the last post being almost a month back… my apologies to all of you.
I just came back from my second visit to Kharkiv/Kharkow in the eastern Ukraine. The first time I came here in June, on a research and introductory visit for a project initiated by partners Osteuropa gGmbH. Together with the wonderful Tatyana Tumasyan and her dedicated staff at the Municipal Gallery of Kharkiv we planned and curated an exhibition, to be opened in September. The exhibition’s opening and the German-Ukrainian cooperation marked the start of the German Weeks in the Ukraine.
The exhibition ‘Understanding – Понимание’ featured installations and performances in public spaces. Eight young, but well-known Kharkiv artists were selected by us to present new works for this exhibition. They are Gamlet Zinkovsky, Konstantin Zorkin, Uliana Alimova, Boba Group, Vladislav Krasnoshchok, Oksana Solop, Vitaly Kokhan and Daria Rakova. The Municipal Gallery did an incredible job at preparing the show and I was very happy and grateful to be able to be present at the opening on the 24th of September.
Here are some pictures of the exhibition (please click on the images to see the full view and read my descriptions):
Exhibition Poster This exhibition has been curated by the Charkiv Municipal Gallery in cooperation with Namibian-German artist-curator Imke Rust. Here are some views of the opening tour and artworks. 25 September 2015 about “Understanding” The question of understanding, or rather – the absence of understanding, has become an acute social problem of modern Ukraine. The loss of empathy and real communication in human relations becomes more and more apparent. Therefor the artist’s role as mediator is necessary. Art has to be taken out into the streets more, in order to directly inspire and stimulate a dialog. Otherwise the important messages of the artists might drown in the cacophony of the city. In this project different voices of young Charkiv artists are carefully placed into the multi-layered cityscape to provoke dialog and accentuate specific themes. Art is an exceptional way of communication; it encourages a dialogue not only between the artist and the audience, but also between different people of society. This dialog can also grow beyond the borders of the city and country, as art has the potential to overcome language barriers and facilitate vital understanding between people and nations. If the artists act as the voice of society, then art can become an interpreter of our thoughts and ideas.
Tatyana opening the exhibition
Vitaliy Kokhan’s performance, releasing fish which can usually only be afforded by the rich into the public pond.
Boba Group performance- They set up a small stall on a public square, similar to what political parties do to inform people about their intentions and gain voters. Just that this is called the ‘fishy party’ which hands out freshly grilled sardines to the public for free. Something’s fishy in the politics…
Boba Group performance- They set up a small stall on a public square, similar to what political parties do to inform people about their intentions and gain voters. Just that this is called the ‘fishy party’ which hands out freshly grilled sardines to the public for free. Something’s fishy in the politics…
Dasha Rakova explaining her work, made by different objects owned by different people, and each tells a story that helps to better understand the person
Konstantin Zorkin’s work about understanding
Oksana Solop’s work
Vladyslav Krasnoshchok: old photographs being reworked and printed on large canvases, displayed on old buildings.
Ukrainian art critic and PhD student in Art History, Vincent and me
Touring the artworks. This mural painting is by artist Gamlet Zinkovsky
Gallery staff enjoying a pizza after a successful opeing.
And a short video of the Boba-Group performance:
Besides the exhibition, I was also invited to present a workshop for a group of 12 young curators, who were selected from all over the Ukraine.
Honestly, when I was first asked to do this, I wanted to say NO. Although I have been working as a curator in the National Art Gallery of Namibia, have curated a few independent exhibitions and art projects and have experience in large international bi-lateral projects like the p.art.ners berlin-windhoek ‘Shared Experiences’ Artistic and Cultural Exchange project between Namibia and Germany, I did not feel that I was really qualified to be in this world-class company of other ‘real’ full-time curators. I wondered what I could possibly teach these young curators, which the other presenters would not be able to do better, as they work with the subject every day.
Then I thought, if I am invited for this, there must be something valuable and special which I can add to this workshop. The organisers believed in me and trusted that I am exactly the right person for this. They would not have approached me if it was otherwise. And I realised that yes, I always believed that I have so much to share that would be helpful and inspirational to others, and now I have the chance to do it. We all have a specific combination of superpowers that make us who we are and let us live our life’s purpose. And I have unique experiences, views and ideas that are worth sharing with others (and so have each of you, by the way).
So I chose to share my personal experiences related to the challenges as an artist in Namibia and in the world and the solutions and alternatives that I have found for myself. I shared what worked for me and why, and what did not. Suddenly I realised that even my frustrations and failures had value in guiding me in a perfect way on my journey and by sharing these (and how I have been able to overcome them, or move on from them) I can really help others.
Getting ready for my lecture
Very interesting experience to present a lecture with a synchronised translation in the conference room of the German consulate.
The participants and me after a completed workshop.
From the feedback and the many ‘thank you’s’, which I got, I am deeply honoured and can say with gratitude that my aim to inspire and enrich these young curators was successful. Here are messages I received from two of the participants, which so much warmed my heart:
“Thank you to incredible Imke Rust for the fact that no matter what the circumstances, not taking into account any impossibility, seeking the most noble and most necessary to improve this planet. For her contagious faith in something that everyone is able to change the world for the better. For her projects, for her unique experience and most importantly, for her desire to share this experience.” Владислава Ильинская
Dear Imke, thank you so much for the workshop you did in Kharkiv! It was really inspiring and motivating. You have a very particular charm and energy, that there are no doubts that you can make it rain. 🙂 Thank you a lot and wish you all the best in your projects! Olena Kasperovych/ Kharkiv, Ukraine
(They were both translated from Ukrainian to English via the Google translator.)
Even though I had a positive feeling about the workshop, I cannot tell you how much it means to me to get personal feedback and assurance like this! Because unfortunately, no matter how much I have achieved or how confident I appear to be, I often feel so insecure and am worrying if what I am doing is good enough… (Note to self: give more positive feedback to others when it is merited. Not only will it be appreciated, but very often it helps that person to overcome their insecurities and doubts a little bit more. And I guess we all have some of those.)
While the participants could hopefully take many lessons home, I can say for sure that I did too.
I learned that
it is important to share ones experiences in a way which inspires others.
we need to trust in our unique strengths and talents and use them like superpowers.
We need to stay true to ourselves.
It is a beautiful gift to be able to understand each other (even if that means you need a translator)
Little by little all our actions can and do add up, so make even the smallest one count.
there are so many young, engaged people out there who are ready to change the world.
Even if outer circumstances differ, usually the patterns of the problems we are facing seem to be very similar. After all we are all human and struggle with similar issues.
my name looks like this in Ukrainian letters: Имке Руст
Besides the workshop and exhibition, I also have been interviewed for an hour by the Ukrainian National television, as well as giving two interviews for local magazines, about my art and I presented an open public lecture at the gallery… Working hard and loving it! The TV interview was really surreal and I am very curious to see the show and I will forever wonder how much got lost or changed in translation? But I do believe the essence will always seep through if we share and receive with an open heart.
I am grateful for having had this opportunity, for meeting so many new and special people and artists, for getting to know a new country and culture, for being able to inspire others and be a blessing in their lives, for realising that it is indeed possible for me to travel with hand-baggage only and how empowering it can be to face and overcome my own fears (like being alone in a foreign country of which I do not understand the language).
I realised that I enjoy sharing my ideas and knowledge in order to help, enrich and inspire others, so I hope that life will present me with many more similar opportunities.
My very special thanks goes to Nastia, who is the kindest, hardworking and committed young curator of the Municipal Gallery of Kharkiv, who also has been my very capable Ukrainian voice (translator) most of the time.
And here are some Kharkiv impressions:
Nastia (left) with her sister
The Municipal Gallery
Departure from the Charkiv Airport
I hope you enjoyed this summary and pictures of my trip to the Ukraine.
We are very excited to announce the Berlin Premiere of the German version of our
documentary film ‘An Infinite Scream’ at the
BrotfabrikKino in Berlin
on Saturday, May 30th (2015)
We hope we can welcome many of you for the very first public screening and a discussion with Steffen Holzkamp (director and producer) and myself, the artist. This is an exciting and intimate look behind the scene of my art making, my intentions behind it and the challenges and opportunities of the art scene in Namibia.
Please feel free to share this event widely with your friends! Thank you.
Die Deutsch-Namibische Gesellschaft e. V. und der Glashaus e. V.
laden Sie herzlich ein zur
Berlin-Premiere des Dokumentarfilms AN INFINITE SCREAM (Deutsche Fassung) am Samstag, dem 30. Mai 2015
Beginn: 18:00 Uhr Ort: BrotfabrikKino, Caligariplatz 1, 13086 Berlin-Weißensee (Tram M2, M13, 12; s. „Service“ unter http://www.brotfabrik-berlin.de)
Programm:
18:00 – 18:45 Uhr “An Infinite Scream”
18:45 – 19:00 Uhr Gespräch mit dem Filmemacher Steffen Holzkamp und der Künstlerin Imke Rust
19:00 – 19:40 Uhr weiteres Filmmaterial zum Thema
Synopsis:
In der prallen Wüstensonne über 1000 Weißdornen zu Kreisen legen? Schwarze Müllsackrosen in die Sanddünen pflanzen? Oder eine halbe Tonne Salz zu einer begehbaren Skulptur formen?
Die Landart Installationen der Namibischen Künstlerin Imke Rust folgen einem immanenten Anliegen: Der Sorge über den zunehmenden Uranabbau in Namibia und der Verschandelung der Wüste. Ihre Kunstwerke sorgen für Aufmerksamkeit, verstehen sich aber auch als ein symbolischer Schutz für das geschundene Land.
Kann Kunst etwas bewirken? Was kann ich tun? Mit diesen Fragen beschäftigt sich Imke Rust auf eindringliche Weise.
In 2012 in Namibia und Berlin gedreht, spiegelt der Film die teils meditative Stimmung der Entstehung von Rust’s Landart. Ruhige Einstellungen bei der Installation der „Salt Circles“ oder reportagige Handkamera bei der Videoperformance „The Scream“ auf der Seebrücke am Atlankik: Schnitt und Montage folgen dem Tempo der Kunst.
Die Absage der gebuchten Rust-Ausstellung seitens der Kunstvereinigung bringt dem Film eine dramaturgische Wendung und verlagert den Schwerpunkt hin zu einer gesellschaftlichen und medialen Kontroverse über die „Freiheit der Kunst“ in Namibia.
So organisiert sich die bekannte Künstlerin mit Hilfe durch ein Netzwerk von Unterstützern ihre Ausstellung einfach selbst.
Starke Bilder an atemberaubenden Orten, sowie Illustrationen und Musik verdichten den Film zu einem eindrucksvollen Statement für Courage und Eigeninitiative im eher konservativen Namibia.
Die Filmarbeit in Namibia wurde teilweise vom National Arts Council of Namibia unterstützt.
Two of my paintings will be on show in Swakopmund at the Fine Art Gallery from the 14th of February till the 14th of March 2015, along with works by other well-known Namibian artists, such as Barbara Böhlke, Nicky Marais, Barbara Pirron,Gerdis Stadtherr und Chris Snyman.
The exhibition, entitled ‘Body & Soul’ will be opened on Saturday 14th of February between 10:00 – 12:30.
I would like to invite all my Namibian friends and fans to come and see the exhibition during this time. This is one of the rare opportunities to view and to purchase my art in Namibia.
Here is a photo of me with one of my paintings which will be on show. This is the first public appearance of this shy lady. Don’t miss it!
Title of the artwork: Pink Girl, Medium: Acrylic on board, Size: 120 x 85cm, Block framed
Fine Art Gallery
34 Sam Nujoma Ave, Swakopmund (Email: info@art-in-namibia.com)
Opening times:
Tuesday – Friday: 10.00 – 12.00 and 16.00 – 18.00
Saturday – Sunday: 10.00 – 12.30 or by appointment
Gallery Press Release:
Valentine´s Day at Fine Art Gallery
Fine Art Gallery wants to celebrate this year´s Valentine with a special theme exhibition “ Body & Soul “ and invites all art lovers for to a champagne launch on 14th February between 10:00 – 12:30.
Many well-known and established Namibian artists have followed the call of the gallery and show their definition on the subject. “Body & Soul” shows body part naked, body language details but also the soul of an individual, his dreams, moods, fears and hopes. Among the works on display are works by Barbara Böhlke, Nicky Marais, Barbara Pirron, Imke Rust, Gerdis Stadtherr and Chris Snyman. Some new talented artists of the “New Signatures “ group are also exhibiting their works.
A versatile exhibition full of desire, sensuality and passion, in short, an explosion of expressive colours and images in oil, acrylic, mixed media and simple, touching sketches. The exhibition will be on show until 14th March 2015 in the gallery.
The drawing in favour of the Desert Lion Fund will also take place at the champagne launch.
I realised that I have never put up my mixed media artworks from my land art project on my webpage…
So let me share some of the works and the thoughts behind them with you today!
What will be left, Acrylic and cutting away of tourist map 69 x 49cm
What will be left (Acrylic and cutting away of tourist map 69 x 49cm)
This artwork is called ‘What will be left’
All currently awarded mining licences were cut out from a tourist map, to make the actual impact visible. Not all licenses will be used immediately or at all, but companies would not pay for such licenses if they did not have the intention of using it sooner or later. Also many of the areas are awarded more than once, for instance for diamonds and for nuclear fuels at the same time.
(This information can be found on the webpage of the Ministry of Mines & Energy of Namibia).
Open Pit Near You Photo of the Namib Desert, acrylic, cardboard (Recycled), wood glue 14,7 x 19,7 x 1,7cm
From photographs which I took of the Namib desert I cut out an ‘open-pit mine’.
Concessions Areas 2 Digitally manipulated photo of the Namib Desert Digital print on photo paper 15 x 20cm Numbered Edition
Concessions Areas 1 Digitally manipulated photo of the Namib Desert Digital print on photo paper 15 x 20cm Numbered Edition
Most of the Namib desert is sliced up into different concession areas for mining purposes, awarded by the government to interested parties, very often foreign companies. Once again I used my photographs and imagined what it would look like, if we could see these areas while we are in the desert.
Repeating History (Maharero & Leutwein) Ball-point pen on magazine image 27,5 x 43cm
There is a pretty famous old photograph of the Herero Chief Samuel Maharero and Governor Leutwein. Samuel Maharero has sold off much of the land of his people to the Germans for very cheap in return for being helped to fight the Herero people who did not accept him as chief.
I used this photograph as a reference and drew the people into a modern-day setting (an interior from a magazine) as I imagine similar dubious and far-reaching deals are happening still today, especially in awarding mining concessions.
The problem with selling off our countries resources in such a big way, is that we will never be able to get them back. Once they are depleted, they are gone forever and we are left with big scars in the earth and probably a lot of pollution.
Fata Morgana Welwitschia Acrylic and pencil on canvas 15 x 20cm
Or: Not everything that shines is gold…
I guess only Namibians will understand this work immediately. The Welwitschia is a unique plant found in the Namib desert. An abstract representation has been used as decoration for the statehouse’s fence. The golden Welwitschia decoration is made by North-Koreans and it is not cast in metal, but in plastic. The statehouse has been the source of much dispute, since it was build mostly by foreigners and at a huge cost to the nation. The lavishness and pomp and huge expense feels like a laugh in the face of all the Namibian people who are living in real poverty with no roofs over their head.
Also, the Welwitschia is a special ancient, protected plant found in the desert and just like the minerals, metals and nuclear fuels which can be found here, I feel that our government would sell it off to some foreign investor without further thought, if they were offered the faintest promise of getting rich quick.
If you would like to see some more works from this project, please visit this LINK.
PRESSEMITTEILUNG: BrotfabrikGalerie // Ausstellung
Imke Rust 