Tag Archives: namibia

Secret ingredients for making rain…

Ok, I have decided to share my secret list of ingredients for making rain with you 🙂 .

When we wish to manifest a different reality in our lives, we must firstly set a clear intention. Then we need to put the energy closest linked to that state into a creative act – such as art, music, dance or a ritual. Add a huge bucket of trust and stir in hands-full of patience. Regularly add generous amounts of gratitude and sprinkle with as much fun and creativity as you can find. Decorate with light-heartedness and celebration.

As you might have guessed, this is an update on my last post “Waiting for rain” and you are probably curious to hear if my little rainmaker was successful.

After I made my ‘little rainmaker’ and writing about it in my last post, nothing much happened for a few days. And I started to get doubts. Maybe the rainmaker was too small? Or maybe the stone which I selected, was wrong – after all, it came from the Namib desert, a place which seldom sees rain. Maybe it just had forgotten the feeling of rain? So just to be absolutely sure, I decided to remind the stone and myself of the feeling of water, by making it stand in water, and refilling the water every day, saying my thanks to nature.

There was some rain on the 4th of February, but not much. Just enough that I decided to re-draw the cloud image and rain drops on the stone, as the image has been washed away a little bit. Through doing so, I reaffirmed my gratitude for every little drop of rain that we are getting.

All the time I regularly thought about our believes and superstitions surrounding rain. As kids we were told that eating up your food would allow it to rain and I still say that to friends when they are over for dinner. In Namibia we also say that you must not run to take down the washing from the line, when the first drops fall, as this will surely chase away the rain…

So when the first drops appeared I rather took a picture of my washing and the drops, happy about every little bit of moisture and not worry about it getting wet. Quietly celebrating each one of the few drops which our sky managed to squeeze out of the promising clouds. Even if once again, the drops stopped coming soon after they started… (Note to self: the washing believe does not seem to hold water in either a literal or figurative way. 😉 )

Raindrops on my washing

First raindrops on the new rainmaker (7 Feb)

On my birthday, the 7th of February, maybe as a special birthday gift, we had the first real rain. (Another note to self: it really takes a lot of patience, trust and many little prayers of thanks to get it to rain, but eventually it will rain.)

Ok, I acknowledge that I hoped the little rainmaker would bring lots of rain within two or three days. But maybe I just need more practice and more faith. And at least making and nurturing the little rainmaker gave me a sense of being proactive and positive in a time, when many people are starting to be talking about the imminent drought that we might be facing this year with a doomsday face and spreading the fear.

I learned that even if we can (and should be able to) influence reality with the right intentions and actions a little bit nature still has a way of following its own rhythms, but it might also be reminding us of some valuable lessons. We have been blessed with several really good rainy seasons and we have started to take water for granted again. We have wasted water, used it without being conscious about our actions or without remembering how very blessed we are and saying thanks.

And even if my little rainmaker has not yet brought Namibia or my garden the wonderful rains which I hoped for, I still have faith that we will also survive this year and this season.And that the rain might still come…

Last, but not least the little rainmaker provided me with regular joy watching the wild animals coming to drink from my installation. In the very first picture is a wild yellow mongoose and below is a red-eyed bird. I do not know the scientific name of the bird, but I happen to know this bird personally, as I had the pleasure to share its life for the past few months. She and her husband have nested in my garden and I could watch them raise their young chick, teaching it to fly and celebrate life.

Red-eyed bird drinking from the rainmaker installation

Waiting for Rain

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It is very hot and dry. All Namibians are yearning for the rain to come. So am I.

I have decided to make another, small ‘rainmaker’ work and place it in my garden in hope to set the right energies free to let there be rain. I have made my first “Rainmaker” artwork in 2010. You can click here to be taken to pictures and information on that 🙂 .

For some time now I have been experimenting with the idea that combining creative energy and ritual with the right intentions should be able to influence the ‘reality’. In simple terms: I am trying to figure out, if a rain dance can really produce rain.

And if so, what ingredients are needed? Are there specific magical forms, rhythms, sounds or actions that are needed? Do we really need to dance to get rain, or could it be another creative expression? (Since I am not a dancer, this question is actually quite on top of my list…)

While I am still hoping to one day stumble on a copy of “Rain Dancing for Dummies”, I have settled to do a lot of reading in related matters, from traditional beliefs and cultures from all over the world to artists who have explored similar concepts, like Joseph Beuys.

And while I am at it, I thought, it will not harm to start experimenting with it already. So here are some pictures of my drawing of a raining cloud made to focus the intention on the reality which I would like to see and feel.

I have made it a few days ago and yesterday there were some promising clouds but no rain. Today there are some more clouds, so I am keeping my fingers crossed… and my intentions focused on the cool refreshing wetness of rain…

Rainmaker on my stoep (local word for verandah)

Rainmaker on my stoep (that is what Namibians call a verandah)

20cm high flat stone, sepcially collected for this purpose from the Namib. I made the drawing with white Chalk drawing.

+-20cm high flat stone, specially collected for this purpose from the Namib. I made the drawing with white Chalk, so that it can wash off with the first rain…

Some clouds in the sky in the day I have made the drawing.

Some clouds in the sky on the day I have made the drawing.

Screaming for the Namib (Part II)

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After my last post, where I have shared a pretty cool and fun video of my art (inter)action “An infinite scream passing through the Namib“ (Click on the title to be taken to that post if you have missed it), I had a request to post some of the photographs which I took from the participants.

So here is a selection of some of my favorites: (to view the full image, please click on the thumbnail picture)

Makafa Screams by ImkeRust(c)

George Screams (c)ImkeRust

JanDaniel and Niece Scream (c)ImkeRust

Helia Screams (c)ImkeRust

Britta Screams (c)ImkeRust

Isabel Screams (c)ImkeRust

Burkart Screams (c)ImkeRust

Jasoni Screams (c)ImkeRust

Postcard with several ‘screams’ Help Save Our Environment! (c)ImkeRust

During the one hour before sunset we managed to get 18 people (all complete strangers except for my dad) to scream for us, even though they were all ‘silent’ screams.

Don’t these photographs make you feel like joining in the fun and scream?

Screaming for the Namib (Part I)

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Today I have an extra-special treat for you:

Its video time!!!

For the first time I will share one of my art videos on my blog. I still must get around to update my webpage with pics and info about my latest solo exhibition for you, but till I get to do that, I thought of sharing the video “An infinite scream passing through the Namib” with you. The 4min video is a short documentation of an art action which I have done in Swakopmund in April 2012. It was publicly shown for the first time at my exhibition in December 2012 in Swakopmund. Guests of the exhibition loved this fun video so much, that I decided to share it with everybody on my blog too.

Me re-enacting the Scream by Edvard Munch on the Swakopmund Jetty.

Here a short info what the whole art action is about:

In order to raise the local and global awareness about the dangers of the exploitation and destruction of the Namib desert and coastal area through mining and other proposed industrial developments, I initiated this public art action based on Munch’s painting “The Scream”. During the hour before sunset I asked passersby to re-enact the scene of the original painting to show their concern for our Namibian environment and have photographed their ‘screams’, while the whole action has been captured on film by Steffen Holzkamp of Onexa A+V.

In 2011 I have painted my own version of the Scream (you can see it here). Munch’s “Scream” painting has always reminded me of the jetty in Swakopmund where I grew up, and slowly the idea developed for this art action. The title came from what Munch has said about his inspiration for the painting.

“I was walking along a path with two friends—the sun was setting — suddenly the sky turned blood red — I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence —there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city — my friends walked on,and I stood there trembling with anxiety — and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”
Edvard Munch (1863-1944) about his work “The Scream (of Nature)

And here the video – Enjoy!

"An infinite scream passing through the Namib" 
Video, 3:57min, © Imke Rust
An Art Action by Imke Rust documented in video and photographs 
@ The Jetty, Swakopmund, Namibia. 17h00-18h00, 2 April 2012
Based on the artwork "The Scream" by Edvard Munch. 
Concept & Photographs: Imke Rust
Filming & Video: Onexa A+V

With special thanks to Martha, Makafa, Erson, Isabel, Brad, Britta, Lena, 
Luisa, Stefan, Jasoni, Helia, Elina, Burkart, Steffen, Armand, Logan, Ros,
George, Jan-Daniel and Janelle for your "screams" and Onexa A+V and the 
National Arts Council of Namibia for supporting this project

Also have a look at Part II to see some of the photographs taken during this action!

Did you like the video? Did it put a smile on your face? Or a new thought into your head? Does it inspire you to think of what you can do for the environment?

Then please share this post with your friends via Facebook, YouTube, Twitter or by email. And please show your support by leaving a comment or “Like” either here or on YouTube. Thank you!

Starting of by Looking Back

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All the best wishes to my blog followers for the New Year! Thank you for your support in the past and I am looking forward to sharing my art and thoughts with you again in 2013.

Happy New Year Namib © Imke Rust

Wow, 2012 has been a busy and exciting year! My latest solo-exhibition has just ended and I had such a great response to it, that I am deeply grateful and humbled. Thank you all who came, commented, sent good wishes or supported me in any other way. I am busy getting ready for another fabulous new year and preparing to soon update my webpage with new pictures and information on the past exhibition and other news. Till then, I leave you with a brief review of my most viewed blogs of the last year.

I love feedback and was excited to get some nice statistics about my webpage and blog from WordPress (where my page is hosted), and would like to share some of the highlights with you:

My webpage received about 8700 views in the past year. Visitors came from 99 countries!
Most visitors came from Namibia. Germany & The United States were not far behind.

You might want to re-read my three top blogs from the past year – the ones which have received the most views are:

Cat and thorn circle

1. Tokoloshe Trap (or How to Catch Creatures of the Night) This blog tells you more about the origins of one of the works (Tokoloshe Trap) on my latest exhibition “…and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib”.

Clay Sculpture by Imke Rust (c) front view

2. The shoes you wear… and how they are connected to my art This one is a fun post about a very old work of mine, but seems if you put the word ‘shoes’ in the header, you might get more hits… (This blog got 184 views in 2012)

Tate Kuru, a Tree and a Road

3. Tate Kuru, a tree and a road – a story of courage and doing the right thing This post is an inspirational post and explains a bit of my thinking and background to the art project I worked on for most of the year which resulted in my solo exhibition “…and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib” which was shown in December 2012 in Swakopmund to great acclaim.

I would love to hear which was your personal favourite blog post, story or artwork of mine of the past year? And is there anything that you really would love to read or see more about this year? Please let me know!

Pictures from the Opening

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Finally I have time to share some pictures of the opening of my latest solo-exhibition. It opened to great many people on Sunday the 9th of December in Swakopmund on the premises of “The Last Resort Well/ness Centre” (Yes, that is how it is written for a good reason). I did not count, but the newspaper said there were at least 150 people for the opening. And I got so much wonderful comments and feedback! Wow! Thank you to everybody who came! And those of you who have missed the opening, you still have time to see the exhibition (without the pushing and shoving of so many people) every afternoon between 14h00 and 18h00, except Sundays, till the 29th of December. I am at the exhibition all the time, if you would like to meet me. I would sure love to hear your thoughts, meet old and new friends and share my art with you!

All photographs taken by Steffen Holzkamp. (Copyright)

The opening speech, with Clinton Lang from “The Last Resort Well/ness Centre” in the middle.

An Infinite Scream – Press-Release

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SubRosa
Temporary site-specific art installation by Imke Rust

What do you do, when an arts association cancels your exhibition because they find it too political? And when a cultural centre asks you to change your exhibition proposal to hide the true message so that it might stand a chance of being shown? You make sure it gets shown anyway, in an unbiased space.

And so Imke Rust’s latest solo exhibition, entitled ‘… and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib’ will open at “The Last Resort Wellness Centre” in Libertina Amathila Ave 5, Swakopmund (opposite of Hotel Pension A la Mer) on the 9^th of December at 17h00. It can be viewed thereafter till the 29^th of December, between 14h00 and 18h00, Mondays till Saturdays.

In this environmental art exhibition Imke Rust, who grew up in Swakopmund and is still closely connected to it, addresses the current debates and happenings concerning the plans for increased mining and industrial activities in the coastal area. In her work she uses a variety of media and approaches to highlight the concerns of the general public and to search for alternative solutions in the environmental conflict. While she is painting a gloomy picture of possible disastrous long-term effects of the current developments, she also reminds people of their responsibility to look after their land and that they have the power to make changes towards a better future.

Once more, Imke Rust has produced a powerful body of work, exploring and openly questioning social and political controversial issues. Central to the exhibition are temporary land art works that the artist has installed in the Namib Desert. At the exhibition these installations and interventions will be presented through photographic and video documentation. She evocatively combines natural and man-made materials such as thorns, salt, dung, rubbish bags, barbed wire and videos in her captivating artworks. She even got complete strangers involved in a documented art action for the environment on the jetty.

The artist neither preaches nor dictates what the viewer’s stance should be. Instead the exhibition draws you in and compels you to engage and consider the complexities of the debate. It is an empowering experience and should definitely not be missed.

A small part of the exhibition has already been shown in Berlin earlier this year, where it was received with great interest. Intriguingly the Swakopmund Arts Association has cancelled Rust’s booking of the Woermann Gallery on the premises that the “impertinent and unscientific public debate against the economically important uranium mining industry […] is politically charged“.

For more information please contact me via this blog and webpage or find my artist page on Facebook (and like it, if you are also on Facebook 🙂 ) or go directly to the Event’s page, also on Facebook.

Looking forward to seeing many of you at the opening or afterwards!

The Last Resort Well/ness Centre – Swakopmund
Libertina Amathila Ave 5

Save the date!

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You are invited!

“…and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib”

An environmental art exhibition by Imke Rust

From the 9^th till the 29^th of December Imke Rust will show her latest body of work in Swakopmund. The exhibition addresses the current debates concerning the plans for increased mining and industrial activities in the coastal area. Through her diverse artworks she invites the viewer to engage in and consider the complexities of the controversial issues. The artist will be present at the opening.

Opening: 9^th of December at 17h00

Venue: The Last Resort Well/ness Centre, Libertina Amathila Str. 5, Swakopmund.

Duration of exhibition: 10^th – 29^th of December 2012

Opening Times: 14h00 – 18h00, Mondays till Saturdays

Art Clubs – what a brilliant idea!

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Sold! This lady will be traveling to her new home(s) in Denmark.

I have just sold this drawing on paper from my current figurative series to the Danish art club “C67” (from the town of Hjørring) after they visited me in my studio. Their visit to galleries and artists’ studios in Berlin was organized by the Danish artist Mads Dahl Pedersen, who’s studio is in the same building as mine. (Go and check out his artworks by clicking on his name, once you are finished here).

Besides being happy about another sale of my art, I also got to know about art clubs for the first time. Here is what I learned about them:

Art clubs are very popular in Denmark and it sounds like such a cool idea: Each member pays a small monthly fee and the money gets used to buy art. The members of the art club can then hang the work in their own houses for a month, after that time the work goes on to the next member, so that everybody gets a chance to live with the artwork. Once a year they hold an auction, where the members can bid on the works they really like and want, and the highest bidder gets to be the final owner of the work. What a cool idea to stimulate the interest in art and keep it fun and interesting, while at the same time building up a good collection of art!

This particular club has eleven members. I think that is an average number so that each member can have each artwork for one month in the year. And each member pays about 60 Euros per month. I guess the amount payable is made up by the group and depends on their income. So that starting an art club is not a matter of being well-off, but rather of putting your money together to buy great art. And you meet once a month, go to galleries together, talk about art and exchange ideas and views.

Maybe this idea can take root in Namibia (or wherever you are living)? What do you think, is this a brilliant idea or what?