In Between by Gussie van der Merwe and Lavinia Rossetti
Exhibition
/
02 Dec 2017
-
02 Feb 2018
Published: 28.11.2017
San W Gallery Studio
- Mail:
- yiwei.wu
sanwart.com
- info
sanwart.com
- Management:
- Yiwei Wu

A duo exhibition shows the result of South African and Italian artists' critical interpretations of Shanghai through handmade object or jewellery.
Artist list
Lavinia Rossetti, Gussie van der Merwe
Gussie van der Merwe
Shanghai is a city that is always changing, comprising of old and new; modern and traditional, Eastern and Western aspects. It is in these contrasts, in particularly the juxtaposed woven bamboo fences and modern concrete walls, where I found my inspiration for this residency.
From this starting point, my attention was drawn to other woven products that I saw around my areas such as baskets and fans. My research subsequently expanded to weaving techniques from other countries as I realised that weaving, in its various forms and materials, is visible in most cultures around the world.
This body of work is a manifestation of my experience of living in China for the last four years, my travels to other countries and my South African heritage. As a Caucasian Afrikaner born in South Africa, a by-product of European colonialism, my background is a hybrid of cultural experiences woven together. Through my work, I explore the cultural effects of an increasingly globalized world and in the process weaving together a new culture and identity - that of a global citizen.
Lavinia Rossetti
Eating is one of the natural ways to explore a new country. After arriving in China chopsticks were the first ‘tool’ of mediation between me and a new reality. These utensils became my keys for new flavours and for a new culture.
I am fascinated by the symbolic meaning as well as the aesthetic and intrinsic qualities of chopsticks.
By cutting up, interlacing, imprinting I transformed one the most common objects used to create structures that became wearable pieces inspired by my new surroundings. The work is my intuitive analysis of China and its flavours, a very fast digestion of all the visual inputs that I got during this stay.
This body of work consists of 157 pairs of disposable chopsticks.
I collected the chopsticks that came with every take- away meal and asked the staff of the gallery to use chopsticks which were made to be washed and reused after meals.
Shanghai is a city that is always changing, comprising of old and new; modern and traditional, Eastern and Western aspects. It is in these contrasts, in particularly the juxtaposed woven bamboo fences and modern concrete walls, where I found my inspiration for this residency.
From this starting point, my attention was drawn to other woven products that I saw around my areas such as baskets and fans. My research subsequently expanded to weaving techniques from other countries as I realised that weaving, in its various forms and materials, is visible in most cultures around the world.
This body of work is a manifestation of my experience of living in China for the last four years, my travels to other countries and my South African heritage. As a Caucasian Afrikaner born in South Africa, a by-product of European colonialism, my background is a hybrid of cultural experiences woven together. Through my work, I explore the cultural effects of an increasingly globalized world and in the process weaving together a new culture and identity - that of a global citizen.
Lavinia Rossetti
Eating is one of the natural ways to explore a new country. After arriving in China chopsticks were the first ‘tool’ of mediation between me and a new reality. These utensils became my keys for new flavours and for a new culture.
I am fascinated by the symbolic meaning as well as the aesthetic and intrinsic qualities of chopsticks.
By cutting up, interlacing, imprinting I transformed one the most common objects used to create structures that became wearable pieces inspired by my new surroundings. The work is my intuitive analysis of China and its flavours, a very fast digestion of all the visual inputs that I got during this stay.
This body of work consists of 157 pairs of disposable chopsticks.
I collected the chopsticks that came with every take- away meal and asked the staff of the gallery to use chopsticks which were made to be washed and reused after meals.
Wall piece: Untitled, 2017
Copper
60 x 40 x 5 cm
Photo by: Zoe Zeng
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Wall piece: Untitled, 2017
Copper
60 x 40 x 5 cm
Photo by: Zoe Zeng
Close up
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Bowl: Untitled, 2017
Copper
10 x 10 x 1.5 cm each
Photo by: Zoe Zeng
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Body piece: Safe food neighbourhood sharing, 2017
Disposable chopsticks, Chinese silk.
170 x 30 cm
Photo by: Zoe Zeng
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Necklace: Safe food neighbourhood sharing, 2017
Disposable chopsticks.
65 x 20 cm
Photo by: Zoe Zeng
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
Earrings: Untitled, 2017
Chopsticks imprint on fine silver and gold plating.
6 x 6 cm average
Photo by: Zoe Zeng
© By the author. Read Klimt02.net Copyright.
San W Gallery Studio
- Mail:
- yiwei.wu
sanwart.com
- info
sanwart.com
- Management:
- Yiwei Wu
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