Tag Archives: Swakopmund

Exhibiting in Swakopmund

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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!

Me, shortly after completion of the painting: Title: Pink Girl Medium: Acrylic on board, Size: 120 x 85cm Block framed

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.

My artwork seen from space

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Wow – what a surprise! I just realised that Google has updated their satellite views, and one can clearly see my land art installations ‘Salt Circles’ right from outer space! Isn’t that cool?

Land art installation 'Salt Circles' by Imke Rust, as seen on Google Satellite View.

Land art installation ‘Salt Circles’ by Imke Rust, as seen on Google Satellite View. (Correct Coordinates: 22° 36’ 21” S,14° 31’ 51” E)

I have taken this photo from my screen, but you can go and have a look on Google Maps/Satellite View yourself. (Coordinates: 22° 36’ 21” S,14° 31’ 51” E)

Even if one cannot see each circle on its own, one can clearly see the smallest and largest circle and some lighter/white shade in between.

And I have another special treat for you! Outer space pictures are amazing, but looking very closely at something is equally breathtaking. Here are some close up pictures, taken by my father a few months after completion of the installation:

chestnut banded plover in the centre of my salt installation

Chestnut banded plover (near threatened species) in the centre of my salt installation

While photographing the salt circles for me, my father noticed this chestnut banded plover (thank you to Jean-Paul Roux for pointing out the correct name) in the centre of the circles, and the bird did not want to leave, dispite all the action. So on closer inspeciton my father found the reason why it was spending time in the centre of the salt circles:

Strandloopertjie nest with eggs

Strandloopertjie nest with eggs

Yes, she has choosen the salt ridges of the circles as perfect shelter for laying her eggs. 🙂 🙂 🙂

The artwork was supposed to be a symbolic blessing and protection of the surrounding land. The concentric circles were selected as a shape to symbolise the outward ripple-effect which I hope this blessing and protection would have. To me the nest of the bird seems to confirm in a small but beautiful way, that my intentions are recognised and appreciated by nature.

Another close-up view

Another close-up view

For more information and pictures of this artwork, click here.

Sowing Salt

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Sowing Salt (Art Video / Performance )

Still image from ‘Sowing Salt’ (Art Video / Performance )

Have you ever sowed salt?

No? – Why would you?!?!

Any sane person would know that that would be futile and at the same time dangerous, poisoning and destroying your piece of soil.

But how often have you done something like sowing salt? Investing your energy (or money) and only later realising that you have done more harm than good? And how often did you do something stupid, because somebody told you that “that is what we have to do” or “It is a sure way to get rich (you can substitute ‘rich’ with whatever else you desire)”? I guess we all have at least once sowed salt and been utterly disappointed, asking ourselves why we did not think it through before we invested in an idea, and before it was too late…

It is up to us, to stop sowing salt. Stop whatever “get-rich-quick” scheme you are onto.First think your choices through to the end. Think about the larger picture and what impact it will have on others or your environment. If you are not sure, get informed and educate yourself. It is so easy in today’s world to have easy and free access to information. Share your knowledge and urge people to stop following “get-rich-quick” promises of their leaders. That way we can restore our earth and lives to its natural fertility and beauty.

In 2012 I have made a video art work / performance entitled: Sowing Salt. The work is a contemplation about people blindly following their leaders without questioning if it is right or wrong, and thinking about the long-term effects of their actions.

It was first shown as a video installation in December 2012 at my exhibition “…and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib” (Swakopmund, Namibia). If you have missed the exhibition, you can now get a glimpse of this video work.

To get a brief impression of the original video installation, please follow the link below. In the exhibition the video continued in loop endlessly. Watch the video in the highest quality possible and remember to switch on the sound.

Sowing Salt Video

Sowing Salt (Video Installation, Swakopmund 2012)

Sowing Salt (Video Installation, Swakopmund 2012)

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.

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!

Interview on the German radio

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Do you understand German and would like to listen to an interview about my latest art exhibition?
Then I invite you to please tune in to the NBC German Radio Station on Sunday, 13 January 13 at 18h00 (Namibian time).For those of you who are not living in Namibia, you can listen to the interview on NBC’s livestream via the internet @ http://96.31.83.87:8110/ . If you have missed that one or cannot make it, don’t worry, there will be a re-broadcast on THURSDAY at 22h00 (17 January).

The program’s name is Kaleidoskop and it will feature a 30min interview with me, hosted by Annemarie Brell. The interview will give you an insight into my views on environmental art, we are talking about my works that have been exhibited recently in Swakopmund at my solo exhibition “…and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib” and I share information how the works originated and what my intentions are.

Many people have commented that they have really enjoyed my earlier brief interview done in the beginning of December, just after the opening of the exhibition, so I hope this will be equally interesting. 🙂

You can find more information on the radio station’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/germanradio

Me busy installing the 99 black roses (made out of barbed wire and rubbish bags) in the Namib desert for a temporary site-specific installation.

Me busy installing the 99 black roses (made out of barbed wire and rubbish bags) in the Namib desert for a temporary site-specific installation.

Love is…

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… sharing a parking bay.

Beach-Buggys sharing a parking bay during high season in Swakopmund ©Imke Rust
Beach-Buggys sharing a parking bay during high season in Swakopmund ©Imke Rust
Top view of the busy parking lot, with the beach- buggies snuggling up closely together.
Top view of the busy parking lot, with the beach- buggies snuggling up closely together.

New Year – more fun, more love and more inspiration.

That is my plan. In the past I have hold back on sharing many everyday things which inspired me or made me smile, because I thought that I should stick to only posting things related directly to my art. I have come to realise lately, that in many ways my life is my art and my art is my life, and I cannot really separate the two – or want to anymore.

I want to live and see my life as an artwork. I actually like the German word “Lebenskünstler”  a lot. Directly translated it would be: life-artist. I understand it as somebody making his or her life an artwork. Unfortunately it is generally used to refer to people who do not earn a steady income and rely on others for their survival, in a negative way.

So, even if some future posts do not have an obvious or direct link to my art, I feel it is an important aspect influencing my art and who I am, and I hope you will enjoy the occasional ‘non-art’ posts too.

Love is… sharing a bit more of who I am with you.

Thank you for being part of my life and art!

Pictures from the Opening

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IRust_Ausstellung_O_sFinally 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!

IRust_Ausstellung_F_s

 

 

 

IRust_Ausstellung_D_s

IRust_Ausstellung_L_sIRust_Ausstellung_G_sIRust_Ausstellung_I_s

 

 

All photographs taken by Steffen Holzkamp. (Copyright)

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

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 9th of December at 17h00. It can be viewed thereafter till the 29th 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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Poster

You are invited!

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

An environmental art exhibition by Imke Rust

From the 9th till the 29th 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: 9th of December at 17h00

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

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

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