BIOGRAPHY
BRONWYN LACE
(b. 1980 Francistown, Botswana)
ARTIST STATEMENT:
An essential component of my practice involves creating site-specific installations with found, recycled and repurposed elements. The pieces are built in situ, responding to the context of the site with repetitive weaving, tying and threading, line by line, between surfaces. This time-based and repetitive process helps me to immerse myself physically within a context so that I may respond to all its elements specifically.
I’m particularly interested in how artworks as spaces relate to the proportions of the human body. I’m interested in creating artworks that employ beauty as an initial tool to create immersive bodily experiences. I believe that when we are fully absorbed by an artwork we have the capacity to relate to and learn from it in a more complete way.
I have long been a collector of things. From found dead insects to broken stained glass to obsolete encyclopaedia. I keep these objects with me until the right time to process them presents itself. I then look to existing, often traditional crafting methods, from weaving, beading and embroidery to folding origami. I believe that the repetitive act of making allows for a meditation with the material, the space and finally the artwork.
The manner in which I choose to respond has to be informed by all aspects of the site. This takes in to account everything from the way in which natural and artificial light shifts the space to who occupies the space over the course of a day. I view all elements as collaborators in the making of an artwork.
BIOGRAPHY:
Lace, who was born in Francistown, Botswana, in 1980, works primarily in site specific installation, sculpture and performance and participates in national and international projects focusing on the relationships between art and other fields, including Physics, museum practice and education. An important element of Lace’s practice involves creating site-specific installations with found, recycled and repurposed elements. The pieces are built in situ, often with intricate threading and weaving. Light is a central component to all of Lace’s work. Through this process-driven practice, she creates architectural three-dimensional and often-interactive artworks, containing material from the world around us such as swarms of fishing flies, rearranged animal skeletons or thousands of shards of shattered stained glass.
In collaboration with Marcus Neustetter, Lace has initiated various community and land art projects in small towns within South Africa. From 2006-2010, she ran the About Art education and exhibition programme at The Bag Factory Artists' Studios. She currently sits on the board of the David and Goliath Foundation and is an assistant to the curator of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) art collection. In addition, Lace has recently completed a book and film related to her collaborative project 'Sutherland Reflections' with Africa meets Africa, an organisation that produces illustrated educator’s resource books, films and classroom learning materials. In 2009 and 2010 she was listed in the Mail and Guardian as one of the top 200 Young South Africans. Lace completed a BAFA in 2004 from the University of Witwatersrand.
CV:
HIGHER EDUCATION:
2011
German language B 2.1 Goethe Institute, Berlin, Germany
2009
German language A 1.1.2 & A 2.1 Goethe Institute, Johannesburg
2008
German language A 1.1.1, Goethe Institute, Johannesburg
2006
Psychology 101 and Psychology in Society, UNISA, Pretoria
2004
Bachelor of Arts Fine Arts, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
RESIDENCIES:
2013
'Nirox' joint residency with Marcus Neustetter at the Nirox Foundation Cradle of Humankind, RSA
2010
‘Ampersand’ joint residency with Marcus Neustetter at The Ampersand Foundation New York City, USA
‘Influx/Reflux/Reflex’, guest curator for collaborative project by CASA Africa and Embassy of Spain South Africa Las Palmas, Canary Islands
2009
‘Influx/Reflux/Reflex’, guest curator for collaborative project by CASA Africa and Embassy of Spain South Africa Valencia, Spain
AWARDS:
2014
Flagship project for National Arts Council of South Africa for ‘Sutherland Reflections’, Johannesburg, RSA
2013
Finalist for International Award for Public Art for ‘Sutherland Reflections’, USA and CHINA
2011
Goethe Institute German Language Course scholarship, Berlin, DR
2010
Mail and Guardian Top 300 Young People to Take to Lunch, Johannesburg, RSA
University of Witwatersrand Alumni award, Johannesburg, RSA
2009
Mail and Guardian Top 300 Young People to Take to Lunch, Johannesburg, RSA
Art South Africa Bright Young Things, Johannesburg, RSA
PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS:
2015
Artist talk at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington D.C, US
Guest speaker at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, RSA
2014
Valedictorian art speech for St Mary’s School for Girls, Johannesburg, RSA
2013
Project presentation with Africa meets Africa and Marcus Neustetter at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington DC US
2012
Johannesburg Workshop in Theory and Criticism (JWTC) at CIRCAonJellico, Johannesburg, RSA
DAAD alumni conference 'Change by Exchange: in Higher Education and Research Transformation in South Africa and Germany' at University of Cape Town, Cape Town, RSA
2011
'International Office of Astronomical Awareness' at South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO), Cape Town, RSA
'Building the Scientific Mind' conference at Sustainability Institute Stellenbosch, RSA
'Johannesburg Public Art Conference' at Johannesburg Art Gallery by Trinity Session and Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), Johannesburg, RSA
2010
Artist talk for Architecture.AZA2010, Johannesburg, RSA
Artist talk with Marcus Neustetter at National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian, Washington DC USA
2009
‘On Making’ colloquium at University of Johannesburg, RSA
2007
Visiting lecturer on conceptualization and analysis at Royal Academy of Art, The Hague, The Netherlands
PROJECTS:
2009 - 2015
‘Sutherland Reflections’ collaborative art/science community based and child focused research project, resulting in a feature film, book, permanent public art and museum displays conceptualized, created and managed in collaboration with Marcus Neustetter, Sutherland, RSA
2012 - 2013
'The Africa meets Africa project' a project and production manager as well as art director for the creation of the educational resource film and book 'My Room at the Centre of the Universe'
2010 - 2011
'EnMasse' an interdisciplinary research and conceptual development project towards the creation of viable public space in South Africa, the project is in collaboration with Anthea Moys, Johannesburg RSA
2008- 2010
‘Influx/Reflex/Reflux’ South African curator for an exchange project between Spanish and South African artists at Map ZAR in Richmond and The Nirox Foundation in The Cradle of Humankind, RSA
Salla Parpallo in Valencia, Spain and Le Regenta in Las Palmas, The Canary Islands
2006 - 2010
'About Art’ curator and education officer at The Bag Factory, Fordsburg, Johannesburg RSA
2008 - 2010
'Democracy Begins in Conversation' board member and volunteer as part of the Living Together Institute in Johannesburg, RSA
2007 - 2008
‘Cascoland’ D.I.Y architectural and art collaborative project between International and South African artists and architects Johannesburg (2007) and Durban (2008), RSA
2006 - 2007
www.saartsemerging.org, co-founded a website featuring emerging South African artists, RSA
2004
‘Negotiate' Johannesburg Art Gallery: 4 shows over 4 months in celebration of 10 Years of Democracy, Johannesburg, RSA
EXHIBITIONS
2017
Southern Abstraction, group exhibition, Everard Read, London
Bread in the Bone, solo exhibition at Everard Read, Cape Town
Spectrum, group exhibition, Everard Read, Johannesburg
2016
Surface/Subtext, Group exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town
Summer in the City, Group exhibition, Everard Read, Cape Town
2015
‘Response’, two person show with Neels Coetzee’s CRUCIBLE, Johannesburg, RSA
2014
‘Teeming’, solo exhibition at SpekePhotographic, Johannesburg, RSA
2013
‘Resuscitate’, solo exhibition at Nirox Project Space, Johannesburg, RSA
2012
'A Tendency Towards Complexity', solo exhibition at CIRCA, Johannesburg, RSA
'Sutherland Reflections' collaborative exhibition with Marcus Neustetter, Speke Photographic, Johannesburg, RSA
2010
'En Masse' collaborative project and exhibition with Anthea Moys, The Bag Factory, Johannesburg, RSA
2009
‘Sutherland Reflected’ collaborative exhibition with Marcus Neustetter, Goethe on Main, Johannesburg, RSA
‘Unit for Measure’, with Vaughn Sadie at Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, Johannesburg, RSA
2008
‘Negentrophy’ (land art piece) Newtown, Johannesburg, RSA
2007
‘The Bell Shaped Curve’ Durban University of Technology Gallery, Durban, RSA.
2006
‘77/21’ Parking Gallery, Johannesburg, RSA.
‘Irrational’. Outlet gallery, Pretoria, RSA.
‘1.618’. Young Artists Project, KZNSA gallery, Durban, RSA.
PERMANENT PUBLIC ART PIECES:
2014
‘Place of Light’, commissioned by Propertuity for the entrance of Market Up building
2013
‘Phototaxis’, commissioned by Propertuity for the entrance of Artisan Lofts
2009 - 2011
‘Pageview/Fietas Subway’, commissioned by The Trinity Session and 26’10 South Architects to create a public artwork for the Johannesburg Development Agency, Johannesburg RSA
2009
‘Bus Rapid Transit’, commissioned glass artwork by the Johannesburg Development Agency, Soweto RSA
COLLECTIONS:
2015
Read Collection, Johannesburg, RSA
Elegance, Johannesburg, RSA
2013/2014
Propertuity, Johannesburg, RSA
2013
Spier Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, RSA
2011
Life Collection, Main Street Life, Johannesburg, RSA
2010
Durban Art Gallery Collection Durban, RSA
2009/2014
Nirox Collection, Cradle of Humankind, RSA
2007
Durban University of Technology Collection Durban, RSA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2015
‘The Four Horsemen’ Equus Gallery, Cape Town, RSA
‘Bronze, Steel and Stone’ Everard Read, Johannesburg, RSA
‘Monologues’, Aardklop Festival, Potchefstoom, RSA
‘Homage’ Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town, RSA
‘Drawing’ Fried Copntemporary, Pretoria, RSA
‘Winter Sculpture Fair’, Nirox Foundation, Cradle of Humankind, RSA
‘Empire’ Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town, RSA
2014
‘Winter Sculpture Fair’, Nirox Foundation, Cradle of Humankind, RSA
2013
‘Southern Guild’. MOAD, Johannesburg, RSA
'After the Rainbow Nation' curated by Mary Jane Darrol, Cradle of Humankind, RSA
2012
'Third Paradise - First Worldwide Day of Rebirth', Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto South African participation: Nirox Foundation, Cradle of Humankind, RSA
'Southern Guild', Everard Read, Johannesburg, RSA
2011
'Living as Form', Creative Time Institute, New York, USA
'Horse: multiple views on a singular beast', Everard Read, Curated by Ricky Burnett, Johannesburg, RSA
'Collaborations/Articulations', FADA Gallery, UJ curated by Brendan Gray, Johannesburg, RSA
2010/2011
Reasons to Live in a Small Town', Goethe on Main, curated by VANSA, Johannesburg, RSA
2010
'2012', Space Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg, RSA
2009
‘(No)thing’ UCA gallery, Observatory, Cape Town, RSA
‘Adding Subtractions’ The Bag Factory, curated by Daniella Geo of Brazil, Johannesburg, RSA,
‘Double Body’ FADA Gallery, UJ curated by Anthea Buys, Johannesburg, RSA
‘Oudtshoorn Trace’ ABSA KKNK Festival, in collaboration with Marcus Neustetter and curated by Johan Myburgh, Oudtshoorn, RSA
‘Social Pattern’ AVA Gallery, curated by Kirsty Cockerill, Cape Town, RSA
2008
‘Traces’ Nirox Foundation, a collaborative performance and installation with Marcus Neustetter, commissioned by VISI magazine, The Cradle of Humankind, RSA
‘The Fun House’ The Bag Factory, a collaborative performance piece with musicians Phanuel Masike and Stompie Selibe, Johannesburg, RSA,
‘Trajectory’ The Snowflake Building, Aardklop, RSA
‘Rites of Passage/Rites of Fealty’ a group show of performance artists, Johannesburg, RSA,
‘Aftermath’ Art Extra, a group show curated by David Brodie, Johannesburg, RSA
‘Youth (The Inner Reflection)’, Muvart Gallery, show featuring artists from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique dealing with themes around youth, Maputo, Mozambique
2007
‘Away’ Richmond, group show of artists featured in the A Look Away Publication, Northern Cape, RSA
‘Re-Action’ The Bag Factory, group show of performance artists, Johannesburg, RSA
‘Love You Positive or Negative’ Alliance Francais, an HIV Aids fundraising exhibition, Paris, France
2006
‘Parking Gallery Show’. The Cape Africa Platform gallery, Cape Town, RSA
‘AardKlop’, part of the Sasol group show, Potchefstroom, RSA
‘Sasol New Signatures’, Pretoria Art Museum, awarded with certificate of acknowledgement, Pretoria, RSA
CURATED EXHIBITIONS:
2012
'A Luta continua: The struggle continues' a selection of works from the SABC art collection in recognition of the African National Congress celebration of its centenary, as assistant curator to Koulla Xinisteris held at Radio Park, Johannesburg, RSA
2011
'Scape: a selection of works from the SABC art collection for COP17', as assistant curator to Koulla Xinisteris held at the ICC, Durban, RSA
'Wanderers' in collaboration with Afrika.Es, Revolution House, Johannesburg, RSA
2010
'Reflex I Reflexion' co-curated with Nilo Casares (ES) hosted by the Johannesburg Art Gallery,
Johannesburg, RSA
2009
'Fietas: festival, fiesta or fiasco?' curated for The Bag Factory as part of The Fietas Festival, Johannesburg, RSA
2008
Co-curator for SAartsEmerging space on Rotterdam Art Fair, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
2007
‘Making Waves’, assistant to the curator of the SABC Art Collection, on show the Cape Castle Gallery of Good Hope in Cape Town, RSA
‘Positive Pulse’, assistant to the curator for an HIV Aids fundraiser featuring more than 50 South African artists at Sun City, RSA
