Nel Gallery | Shooting Selves II

Nel Gallery Presents: Shooting Selves II by Hentie Van Der Merwe

Hentie Van Der Merwe's Shooting Selves II delves into the complexities of self-representation in the age of social media.

This exhibition builds upon Van Der Merwe's 2020 Shooting Selves, exploring the theme of self-portraits captured on smartphones and shared online. The new works, however, expand the exploration through diverse mediums - etching, watercolor, ink on paper, oil on canvas, and charcoal drawings.

While some works present individual faces staring back at the viewer, others use layered self-portraits, creating images that are simultaneously specific and generic. The exploration extends beyond individual identity, examining the processes, techniques, and mediums used to create these self-constructed narratives.

Van Der Merwe draws inspiration from various theorists, including Lacan and bell hooks, to examine the act of self-observation and the "gaze" directed at oneself. He explores the gaze as an act of rebellion, assertion, submission, and its relation to both power and pleasure.

The grid, a recurring motif from Van Der Merwe's previous exhibition, reappears in these works. It serves as a compositional tool, referencing the matrix, the "mother" (womb), and concepts of power structures as described by Foucault and Judith Butler.

Exhibition Dates: September 6^th - October 14^th, 2023

Witness Van Der Merwe's captivating exploration of selfhood and social media in "Shooting Selves II" at Nel Gallery.