In the Main Gallery an exhibition of recent paintings by Heleen Verwey is presented. Heleen Verwey is a Dutch artist now living in South Africa. Displayed in the Mezzine and Park Galleries “Durban: Impressions of an African City” is an exhibition of photographs by Paul Weinberg. This exhibition consists of images for a new photographic book on the city of Durban
Heleen Verwey has a diverse background in the arts, having worked in theatre, television, animation and in music both as an organiser and a performer. For the last fifteen years she has worked in fine art, at first in her spare time but in the last nine years, full time. She studied at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten (Rotterdam) and has exhibited widely in Europe, Holland and elsewhere. Her last solo exhibition was at the National Art Gallery of Namibia in October 23001.
Verwey's work falls in the genre of ‘informal art’ ad uses a number of different mediums in which she expresses herself. In her works she uses canvas, wood and stone. Her art is strongly influenced by symbols and spiritual icons mainly influenced by Eastern and African cultures.
Durban is a city of contrasts, contradictions, cultural diversity and challenges. In his book Paul Weinberg relates the untold story of this interesting and exciting African city. Venturing beyond the clichés and stereotypes, Impressions of an African City takes you into the heart of South Africa and Africa. Reflected through the architecture, culture and people, both indigenous and 'indigenised', the soul of the city is revealed.
It is also an excellent example of a city facing the unique challenges of modern Africa and post-apartheid South Africa. For this reason, it has been selected as one of the United Nations Agenda 21 cities. "To survive successfully into the future, Durban will have to seek a middle path between rich and poor, expectations and reality, growth and sustainability. It will need to involve all its people in building a vision which draws on the city’s abundant human and natural resources today…" (Durban’s Today Tomorrow, a report to the UN Agenda 21 Committee).
Written imaginatively by seasoned and award-winning travel writer David Robbins, internationally acclaimed storyteller, Gcina Mhlope, and observed by renowned documentary photographer Paul Weinberg, this is an unusual travel book with perceptive insights into one of Africa's most interesting cities.
IMAGE:
Paul Weinberg
Durban beachfront
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