Roar!
"Exploration of Emotional States"
"ROAR!" A solo exhibition by Ferdi B Dick invites you to embark on a journey through the ever-shifting landscapes of the human emotional experience with "ROAR!" This solo exhibition, hosted at "131 a Gallery," is a continuation of my artistic exploration that began with 'Lion's Breath' at Everard Read Johannesburg in early 2023.
At the heart of "ROAR!" lies my primary motivation - the profound exploration of emotional states through the medium of animated avatars. In both "ROAR!" and "Lion's Breath," I employ the powerful language of art to venture into the rich tapestry of human emotions. I offer the viewer an opportunity to connect with and release your own feelings, much like the "Lion's Breath" yoga posture, with its symbolic act of sticking out the tongue and making a loud growl sound to release emotions. "Roar!" aims to provide a much-needed "breathing space" for viewers, offering respite from the tensions and stresses of daily life.
In "ROAR!" the "Lion's Breath" posture transforms into a call to action, urging us to delve deep into our emotional selves.
Playful and whimsical themes, infused with humour, define my creations, and I take great pride in maintaining a high level of craftsmanship. Within the "Stainless Steel Medium" of this exhibition, I've extended the iconic lion character into unique elephant and bunny sculptures. They are meticulously crafted work fashioned from polished stainless steel and coated with high-gloss paint resulting in a contemporary finish, representing an entirely novel approach to producing modern sculptures of exceptional quality.
Not limited to a single artistic medium, crystal adds a new energy to my creations. From the popular lion and doggie sculptures, in this exhibition I introduce two new friends, Bunnie and Ellie. These sculptures were born with three vibrant colour variations per animal form and are handcrafted from high-quality crystal oar. These crystal sculptures with their iconic tongue gestures offer a unique combination of opulence, brilliance and fantasy.
As a curious artist, exploring new techniques has always been my guiding principle. In "ROAR!", you will witness an artistic evolution with fusion of diverse materials and techniques, and as a novel creation an array of 2-dimensional acrylic on perspex artwork. This collection of 2D artworks add to the playfulness of the exhibition by incorporating a feel good vibe and whimsicality in their details.
