Future Artifact
An Exhibition by Nomsa Buchholz
Introducing Future Artifact, exploring themes of identity, authenticity and cultural symbolism as they relate to the Black Diasporic experience, through sculptural, as well as functional, ceramic pieces.
The concept of diaspora itself evokes a notion of between one place and the other. In my work I try to combine symbolisms and concepts of different cultures to create a new set of symbols that might work as signifiers or anchors for this third, liminal space.
OPENING SATURDAY THE 16TH OF MARCH | 5PM
Buchholz’s exhibition draws inspiration from Christina Sharpe’s 2016 seminal book In the Wake: On Blackness and Being. Utilizing imagery and atmosphere, Sharpe brings texture, sound, taste and touch to the exploration of the Black Diaspora. The sensory experience of the middle passage: the ship, the hold, the weather and the climate, and the lasting and ever present aftermath of colonialism and chattel slavery, inform Buchholz’s vivid and highly original collection.
A recurring theme in the exhibition, octopuses are an alien-like creature known for their high intelligence. They can change color and texture to camouflage and communicate warnings. Here, the octopus indicates memory, transformation, assimilation and protection, and evokes the Atlantic Ocean, an in-between place that witnessed the transformation of humans into commodities and received many black bodies, some already dead, some jettisoned, some voluntarily choosing it as their last resting place.
Designs based on traditional Zulu beadwork and illustration make reference to Zulu culture and the South African struggle against Apartheid. Symbols published by Vusamazulu Credo Mutwa, a Zulu shaman (and vocal supporter of Apartheid) whose books were popular in New Age communities in Europe and the US in the 1990s, are featured. Their actual historical origin and usage is doubtful. Their appearance in this collection therefore, poses a question about cultural authenticity, especially in the context of Apartheid. Buchholz, through pattern, texture and use of color suggests a duality between indigenous self representation and the influence of the non-indigenous gaze.
Join us for drinks, music & the opportunity to meet the artist. Be first to view the exhibition, including works for sale. From 5pm until late.
Future Artifact will be on display at the studio from the 16th to the 30th of March 2024.
Nomsa Buchholz is a Black German and South African artist. She has practiced through a range of art media throughout her career, ranging from paper engineering to beadwork and block printing. For the past seven years her primary medium for creative expression has been clay, in which she creates both sculptural and functional works through hand-building and wheel-throwing. With an MA in African and North American studies, Buchholz draws from theories and histories of identity, culture and belonging in her work. She is currently practicing in Berlin, Germany.