Nina Barnett exhibition at Alliance Francaise Jhb
The work the artist created during her artistic residency in Paris is
showcased at the Alliance Française of Johannesburg as part of a tour
in the French cultural network in Southern Africa. The exhibition is
concerned with investigating urban spaces and narratives
"[In Paris], I became particularly interested in the first steps of navigation one takes upon entering an unfamiliar environment. I observed a range of newcomers to Paris streets. The newcomer's experience is shaped by an anticipation of the city: its potential mystery, romance and fear." says Nina Barnett
The exhibition is concerned with investigating urban spaces and narratives. These investigations have taken the form of stop motion animations, video installations, sound installations and interventions made in urban landscapes. It explores both the idea of journeying and takes on the role of the outside observer - the noticing and documenting eye in the midst of an anonymous bustle.
"My curiosity in public environment drives my work, and as such, I am compelled to incite the same wonder in my audience. I work with a variety of mediums, but the need to evoke a conversation between the piece and the viewer is a constant thread in my practice." describes Nina Barnett
ABOUT NINA BARNETT
Nina Barnett is a South African artist who uses sound, video, stop-motion animation and public interventions to map and explore narrative in public space. She graduated from the Fine Arts programme of the University of the Witwatersrand in 2006, and since then her work has been seen in cities as far as New York, Paris, Belgrade and Rotterdam, as well as Johannesburg and Cape Town. She was awarded the Gerard Sekoto Award by the Absa l’Atelier Awards in 2007, giving her a three-month residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. She was awarded a Spier Contemporary Award in 2007 for Warcry, a collaborative work with Robyn Nesbitt. Nina currently lives in New York.
ABOUT GERARD SEKOTO PRIZE
This annual award sponsored by the French Embassy, the French Institute and the Alliance Francaise is hosted as part of South Africa’s most prestigious art competition, Absa L’Atelier. This prize is awarded to the most promising South African visual artist who earns less than R 60 000 per year. It includes a return ticket to Paris, 3 months’ stay at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, nationwide touring exhibitions and training in French. 2008 Gerard Sekoto Prize winner Retha FERGUSON will be showing her new work as part of a tour in the French cultural network in Southern Africa as from February 2010. 2009 Gerard Sekoto Prize winner Nyaniso LINDI will be staying at the Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris for a 3-month artistic residency from 4 January to 29 March 2010.
ABOUT THE TOUR
The exhibition has toured in the French cultural network in Southern Africa. In 2008, Nina Barnett’s exhibition was on display at the Alliance Française of Gaborone (May), the Alliance Française of Durban (June), the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre in Windhoek (July and August), the Alliance Française of Cape Town (August), the Alliance Française of Port Elizabeth (September), the Alliance Française of Maseru in Lesotho (October) and the Alliance Française of Pretoria (October and November).
