Shards

Many South Africans have a religious background. We are taught that God will protect us, and to have faith in His Word. At the same time, South Africa is inundated with crime and violence which put these theories to the test. Broken glass and bullet holes are relics of the crime we face on a daily basis.

In the works Shards #1 and Shards #2 (oil on digital prints, 2014), I have combined Scripture with images of shattered windshield glass. The glass shards have a beauty in spite of the horror. It obscures the Word in some areas, while the Word remains clearly visible in others. This becomes symbolic of the push-and-pull between faith and fear - a spiritual and psychological battle faced by most of us.

Nellien Brewer: 2 Chronicles 15:3 (2015)

Nellien Brewer: 2 Chronicles 15:3 (2015): Inner cities fascinate me – the socio-economic make-up; the different cycles of decay and regeneration that keep repeating over and o...

2 Chronicles 15:3 (2015)

Inner cities fascinate me – the socio-economic make-up; the different cycles of decay and regeneration that keep repeating over and over. Wealth is found adjacent to abject poverty. Slum buildings rub shoulders with ultra-modern or beautifully restored architectural gems. At the same time, inner cities are hostile environments which often isolate people from families, wholesome values and nature. This hopelessness and despair is expressed in various ways – crime, violence, neglect, vandalism and graffiti – the expressive art of the streets. 

This image was created for the Altered Realities exhibition at the Pretoria Art Association. It shows existing graffiti photographed on a wall in Durban. Various foliose and crustose lichens are growing over the image. The lichen consists entirely of Scripture and partly obscure the graffiti. The image is a comment on society and the reality of its rejection of traditional values, while the lichen, in overcoming harsh reality through complex resilience, becomes a symbol of regeneration and hope.

Digital photographic print, digital print on Perspex, framed, 900 x 600mm

2 Chronicles 15:3 (detail)

Lichen in oil on digital print

Lichen #1 (2013)                  Lichen #2 (2013)

Lichen continues to fascinate me, and I love exploring ways to represent these exquisitely intricate little organisms. These two images show foliose lichens painted in oil on digital prints of text lichen.

The digital image was created in Photoshop and shows organic lichen 'growing' over a background of lacy text. The background was created in Old Testament Scripture (Psalms), while the lichen images are New Testament (Gospels). Conceptually this symbolises the modern church where non-traditional, organic forms of worship and gatherings co-exist with the formal traditional churches.

Nellien Brewer: Lichen

Nellien Brewer: Lichen: I am fascinated by lichen. I have been photographing it for years in various locations – from the deserts of Namibia to the a...

Lichen

I am fascinated by lichen. I have been photographing it for years in various locations – from the deserts of Namibia to the architectural masterpieces of Europe. Lichen occurs all over the world and in areas where nothing else will grow, yet many people are completely unaware of the existence of these visually exquisite, complex little organisms which are not plants but consist of two and sometimes three different organisms (a fungus plus a photosynthesizing alga and/ or bacterium).  Many urban spaces are devoid of vegetation, but lichen can be found growing on the walls or paving. For me lichen is not only a symbol of resilience and regeneration but also a silent witness that covers history while watching it being made.

Once I became aware of the complexity and beauty of the little organisms, I started doing art about them - experimenting with sculpture and painting. However, as in the case of the fig leaf, it seemed that nothing I did adequately conveyed the complexity. It called for a unique interpretation, and once again text and magnification was the answer.

I have completed 4 lichens (1000mm x1000mm) which each contain an entire Gospel - Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The completed work - A new religion - 4 Gospels - was selected for the 2014 Sasol New Signatures exhibition.