Opening Speech: Pretoria Arts Association
Solo Exhibition
Katlego Modiri
“Revive”
By Sammy Muller (Artkapture)
I met Katlego in 2012, as a graduating student of Tshwane University of Technology, he was in the process of completing his B-Tech with the focus of his studies being on printmaking and glass.
As a student and young artist Katlego showed an eagerness to learn and like so many other students, he had a thirst to succeed. The difference, however and what set him apart from so many other, is that Katlego understood that the journey to success for an aspiring artist was going to be far from easy and he was doing everything he could to prepare himself for the reality of that journey.
He understood that dreams, opportunities and aspirations amount to nothing without preparation and hard work.
Over the years we’ve had many discussions about art, music, gaming and travel…all these things inspire and influence him as an artist and we spoke about family. Family that mold and support him as a person.
His unwavering quiet determination is inspirational.
Whenever I’ve been asked to open an exhibition for an artist, the first emotion is that of surprise, then honour…but those lofty emotions quickly give way to sheer and utter panic and fear. I’ve been told…never to open an exhibition by telling your audience that you’re afraid, but I reckon my shaky voice and trembling hands are kind of a dead giveaway. So, why have I exposed my emotions now, in this way.
Well, because this exhibition, “Revive”, is at its core about the artist exposing his emotions. I had all those emotions, surprise, honour, panic and fear all in a single split second in time.
Emotions.
As a student, I was given an assignment and my research led me to the library (when we still used libraries not the internet). There I sat on the floor with relevant books spread out around me. The assignment was to create a design for a sculpture to honor victims of the holocaust and concentration camps. I had seen many movies on the subject, had read about the history and seen loads and loads of historical photographs of victims.
It made me angry and sad all at the same time.
But none of that prepared me for the flood of emotions upon seeing drawings created by these victims while in these camps. Sitting on that public library floor surrounded by these drawings with tears streaming down my face. I felt a little like Alice about to drown in my own tears.
More emotions.
This was the first time that I truly understood the power of a simple line drawing.
More powerful than words.
More powerful than historical footage or photographs.
These drawings touched me not only because of the images they depicted, but because each line was an immediate and direct transfer of the artists’ emotions onto a sheet of paper.
We are bombarded by emotions on a daily basis and I believe, our ability to succeed in life is linked to our ability to cope with the emotional stresses of our modern society.
Coping with emotions is not hiding or suppressing them, but rather about recognizing, acknowledging and dealing with each one on a daily basis.
Katlego does just that.
In his previous exhibition, “Erode”, Katlego recognized and acknowledged his frustrations and his fears and in dealing with those emotions, he has come to a place of hope. Following on “Erode”, this exhibition “Revive”, Katlego, continues his journey through line, overcoming, taking control and even harnessing his emotions.
Four key works from this collection, that illustrate Katlegos’ journey of emotions are:
“Find a Way”
“Strange Terrain”
“Letting Go”
“Revive”
“Find a Way”: Every young person with a dream has to find the path to achieve their goals.
“Strange Terrain”: For any young person entering a new career everything is strange and new and it’s all a learning curve.
“Letting Go”: At some point in every person’s life, you realise that not all your dreams can be realised or that the route you wanted to achieve those dreams need adjustment.
“Revive”: At times in your life you will need to remind yourself of your dreams and revive them, bring them back to life.
Katlego studies the emotional journey of youth through line. Expressing the pressures felt by our youngsters today…. all their frustrations, fears, hopes, dreams and joy.
By stripping the subjects of any recognizable identity, he also strips us the viewer of the constraints of preconceived ideas and subjectivity, allowing us to see and experience only the emotion contained within the line.
The immediate transfer of Katlegos emotions onto paper.
Congratulations Katlego on this wonderful body of work and emotion.