2023 Grad Show

Lizanne du Preez

AUArts Grad Show 312247252_10159846988061077_4403850091881715164_n

Painting

www.lizpoetryandart.ca

I find inspiration in nature, Africa, figures, the medical world, travelling, biomorphic shapes, intuitive movements, painting, music, and words. My life and work have also been touched by grief and loss. Recently, I've been working on process rather than outcome, challenging myself to work with only one type of material for several months. This has forced me to make deliberate choices and focus on growth.

For my current body of work, I start by having a conversation with the fabric in my hands and following where it guides me. My process involves taking articles of clothing that carry memories; and transforming them into soft biomorphic sculptures. I work with ripped bedsheets, cut articles of clothing, and one-meter cuts of crochet yarn, reassembling them into a singular unit that represents the continuum of my fractured life.

This ongoing spiral reminds me that events and seasons overlap, and our lives cannot be defined by a linear timeline from birth to death. When I die, I will be remembered by the things and people I leave behind, not a range of years. The goal of my work is to challenge traditional notions of linearity.

Women of the world Mixed media on canvas
Can't we all just get along? Mixed media on drywall, 8x4'
Another day in paradise Acrylic and fabric on canvas
In the beginning Charcoal, ink, inktense and pencil on paper
Body on this earth Acrylic on canvas
Man and the moon Charcoal, ink, inktense and pencil on paper

Bodies

I have always been attracted to the experience of the human figure, and humanity it its rawest form. In my twenties I completed a degree in nursing, midwifery and psychiatry, which influenced my thought process about the body. In my practice I find myself swerving towards the human body and biological, biomorphic shapes.
Working in oils remind me of blood, of fat, brains, skin, the operating theatre and emergency room. I think about the juicy texture of flesh being translated onto hard, unforgiving surfaces. I am drawn to distortion and death, fluidity of motion, the skyward motion of the soul towards heaven, tears running out of every orifice. Intuitive mark making leads to biomorphic shapes, some of them more human than others.

Bodies AUArts Grad Show Women all over the world
Women of the world Mixed media on canvas
Bodies AUArts Grad Show FINAL8
Can't we all just get along? Mixed media on drywall, 8x4'
Bodies AUArts Grad Show b6ad7a63-9ae9-4dd8-a9f6-cca6ce350944
Another day in paradise Acrylic and fabric on canvas
Bodies AUArts Grad Show 20201117_153953
In the beginning Charcoal, ink, inktense and pencil on paper
Bodies AUArts Grad Show 05_dupreez
Body on this earth Acrylic on canvas
Bodies AUArts Grad Show Moonball
Man and the moon Charcoal, ink, inktense and pencil on paper
Earth Mom and her horse Mixed media on canvas
Unkhulunkulu and Eve Acrylic on canvas
Earth mom One Mixed media on canvas
Earth Mom Two Mixed media on canvas

Earth Mom

Exploration of our relationship to the earth and other celestial beings. Earth Mom loves us and care for us -but we disappoint and anger her. She shows herself in many forms, we just need to take the time to stop and listen.
This series also explores creation stories.

Earth Mom AUArts Grad Show 06_dupreez
Earth Mom and her horse Mixed media on canvas
Earth Mom AUArts Grad Show Eve and Unkulunkulu
Unkhulunkulu and Eve Acrylic on canvas
Earth Mom AUArts Grad Show Earthmom 1
Earth mom One Mixed media on canvas
Earth Mom AUArts Grad Show Earthmom 2
Earth Mom Two Mixed media on canvas
Sad, in happy colors Acrylic, charcoal, alcohol ink and pastels on canvas.
I surrender to my sadness Acrylic on canvas
Succumb to the sadness Acrylic on canvas.
Bawl me a waterfall Charcoal, pencil, ink, pastel on paper
Original sad Oil and acrylic on canvas
When I nearly died Acrylic on canvas board

Sad, in Happy colors

Grieving the loss of my father, my home, my marriage. I express my feelings using tears, angels, figurative gestures while disguising them using vivid splashes of colour. For the casual viewer the paintings seem happy, but those that spend time will see the undercurrent of sadness.

Sad, in Happy colors AUArts Grad Show 437BCED1-8BC1-4004-B55E-82BB73408468 2
Sad, in happy colors Acrylic, charcoal, alcohol ink and pastels on canvas.
Sad, in Happy colors AUArts Grad Show sad2
I surrender to my sadness Acrylic on canvas
Sad, in Happy colors AUArts Grad Show IMG_4110
Succumb to the sadness Acrylic on canvas.
Sad, in Happy colors AUArts Grad Show bawl me a waterfall
Bawl me a waterfall Charcoal, pencil, ink, pastel on paper
Sad, in Happy colors AUArts Grad Show original sad
Original sad Oil and acrylic on canvas
Sad, in Happy colors AUArts Grad Show When I nearly died
When I nearly died Acrylic on canvas board
Soft 1 Slow unraveling - representative of my young life until now: It starts all organized, following rules. By the end of the piece, there is more freedom; and it is not complete.
Soft 1 Slow unraveling - representative of my young life until now: It starts all organized, following rules. By the end of the piece, there is more freedom; and it is not complete
Soft 1 Slow unraveling - representative of my young life until now: It starts all organized, following rules. By the end of the piece, there is more freedom; and it is not complete
Soft 2 Soft sculpture, biomorphic
Soft 2 Biomorphic sculpture, installed
Soft and hard Soft sculpture with wire skeleton

Becoming soft: Grief series

These pieces are the product of my process involving the reworking of articles of clothing that carry
memories; and transforming them into soft biomorphic sculptures.

Becoming soft: Grief series AUArts Grad Show IMG_3552 2
Soft 1 Slow unraveling - representative of my young life until now: It starts all organized, following rules. By the end of the piece, there is more freedom; and it is not complete.
Becoming soft: Grief series AUArts Grad Show soft 5
Soft 1 Slow unraveling - representative of my young life until now: It starts all organized, following rules. By the end of the piece, there is more freedom; and it is not complete
Becoming soft: Grief series AUArts Grad Show soft 4
Soft 1 Slow unraveling - representative of my young life until now: It starts all organized, following rules. By the end of the piece, there is more freedom; and it is not complete
Becoming soft: Grief series AUArts Grad Show soft 2
Soft 2 Soft sculpture, biomorphic
Becoming soft: Grief series AUArts Grad Show soft 3
Soft 2 Biomorphic sculpture, installed
Becoming soft: Grief series AUArts Grad Show soft 1
Soft and hard Soft sculpture with wire skeleton

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