On January 14th of 2001,
I exhibited a new sculptural installation titled "ReFormation"
in South Africa (RSA).
At the invitations of Cannon Hersey, Executive Director of CrossPathCulture
(CPC) New York and Samson
Mnisi, CPC South Africa: I was invited to create a unique art project
in Johannesburg, RSA. As part of CPC's global programming, they organized
a major exhibition at their new Arts Center in New Town / Johannesburg,
RSA. The project was titled "CrossOvers" and included the
works of four international artists: Zhang
Hongtu, Francis Hines, Ken Feinstein and Gerard PaS, as well as national
artists from RSA: Vincent Baloyi, Clifford Charles, Ian Waldeck, Kay Hassan,
Fikile Magadlela, Kefoue Molapo (King), Samson Mnisi, Charles Nkosi, Payne
Phalane, Tracey Rose, Philisiwe Sibaya, Dinkies Sithole and Nhlanha Xlhaba.
I elected to create an ephemeral sculpture based on his own considerations
of the broken. I have always had a fascination with things that are fragmented;
particularly the human form.
My sculptural work for Johannesburg, consisted of gathering as many broken
or discarded things as I could. I then reassembled them into the form
of a new object. I walked through the streets, scouring through junk yards
and digging through the refuse, focusing on the discarded elements of society
(post consumer waste, i.e., furniture, electronics, artifice, etc.)! With
these rejected objects, I reformed them into a `complete' sculptural form
based on the "International Symbol of the Disabled." Unlike the
aforementioned Physically Disabled Symbol, my sculpture is focused on the
miraculous! The figure usually seated in its wheelchair, leaves the ambulatory
aid behind and walks! Completed, "ReFormation" consisted
of a 2 X 25 X 15 metre sculpture, made of broken items found on the
streets of Johannesburg.
The once seated figure is rising from its wheelchair. As we raise the body
from the wheelchair the broken becomes the miraculous, from incomplete to
complete: what I would like to think of as "The 4 R's = Recycle, Repair,
Rejuvenate and Rebirth = ReFormation." ReFormation reflects my own
hope for healing, both physically and spiritually. It conveys my deep sense
that from the discarded can be found a cornerstone of wonder, that what
was marginalized and considered to have no importance turns out to be a
treasure.
What you see below is my
documentation of the project. Documentary film projects on "CrossOvers"
by Kefu Molapo and Ken Bolton as well as a published catalogue and other
printed materials by CrossPathCulture
(please contact CPC) are also forthcoming in the months to come.
Gerard PaS
