PRESS RELEASE: ‘For Some the Pathway to Education Lies Between Thorns’ a solo art exhibition of Peter E. Clarke’s work at William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberly
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For Some, Path To Education Lies Between Thorns, Linocut Colour Reductions, by Peter E. Clarke, 2008
Clarke was
born in Simon’s Town, a naval town near Cape Town, and grew up under the
oppressive apartheid regime. He was forced to relocate to Ocean View, a
designated area for coloured people, in 1972. Despite the hardships and
discrimination he faced, he pursued his artistic passion and became one of the
most influential and celebrated artists in South Africa and abroad. In 2005 he
was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) by President Thabo Mbeki for Excellence
in the fields of arts and literature, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award
in 2010, among other recognitions.
In light of
the current state of affairs at the majority of the nation's higher educational
institutions, which include numerous protests by students expressing their
discontent with the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) the WHAG will
host an exhibition of a number of Clarke's pieces that examine the subject of
education and how it relates to the challenging realities of life. This
exhibition promises to be a celebration of Clarke's distinctive vision.
Clarke's works are renowned for their capacity to capture the beauty and dignity
of daily life.
Though the titled
artwork for this exhibition was made in 2008, the inspiration came to him
earlier in his career while visiting a rural village. Over a decade ago when
his work was exhibited at Rivington Place in partnership with the Institute for
International Visual Arts Clarke was quoted as saying: ‘I’ve been interested
in space for a very long time, since early childhood in fact. Not only that
kind of space, but also the spaces that separate people. The spaces that people
have to traverse. In this particular work, what inspired this one was the fact
that in South Africa, in the rural areas there’s a great deal of having to walk
to school. Often children travel long distances every day. Going to school and
traveling back afterwards. When I for instance spent a while in a village
called Tesselaarsdal in the earlier part of my career there was one group of
children who walked five miles to school in the morning and then walked the
five miles back after school. So I was seeking out the difficulties involved in
gaining an education. And so the title eventually came to me for this
particular one, ‘For Some the Pathway to Education Lies Between Thorns’.”
Clarke cared
a lot about education and always encouraged young and old to empower themselves
through informal and formal learning, despite his generation being denied such privileges
under apartheid. Looking at the state of schools in rural villages in South
Africa today, not much has changed. People in the rural villages still face real
difficulties such as the lack of classrooms, poor access to services such as
water and electricity, no Internet connectivity, and very few public or school
libraries. This exhibition is to remind all of us to ensure that the path to
education is given attention for the advancement of equal life for all.
His distinctive
style seamlessly blends traditional techniques with contemporary aesthetics,
resulting in captivating pieces that provoke thought and evoke a deep sense of
connection. Through his artistic endeavours, Peter E. Clarke captivated
audiences, leaving an enduring legacy that challenges, inspires, and celebrates
the beauty of the human spirit.
The
exhibition is curated by WHAG’s Chief Curator, Chepape Makgato. The opening
reception will be on the 29th of August and run through the 31st
of October 2023.
About WHAG
William
Humphreys Art Gallery is considered one of the finest national art museums in
South Africa. Endearingly known as WHAG and conveniently situated in central
South Africa, it remains one of the cultural gems for locals, and a must-see
for patrons of the arts passing through the diamond city.
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