Veryan Edwards
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Metaphysics is a central focus and concern that is reflected in my work that concerns not only life as it is led in Botswana but in general. Generally, the painting is abstract with some occasional use of figurative images. I continually explore how best to express different levels or veils of existence or reality in me and others and how that may be best expressed and so also use installation and mixed media as alternatives to painting. I believe that the viewer should interact with the work, bringing to the experience their own perspective and interpretation, which leads them to find their own meaning, or not, in a work. These interpretations complete the work and are valid for each individual since the world is a matter of our own interpretation anyway. In this way, the works are “open-ended” and there is no attempt to try to make people see things in any particular way. At the same time, it is wonderful if the original feeling and concept of a work succeeds in being conveyed and shares something with the viewer.
The initial idea in a work is drawn from the world around me or ideas and reflections on the world around me: the landscape, people and experiences. My work reflects the landscape of Africa, having been personally transmuted to create a metaphor for an event, a time, a thought. Life seems contradictory and changeable so the work often includes intentional paradoxes of space and colour, even objects. Africa is mainly reflected in the sense of space and the colours; rich colour expresses a sense of sun and heat.
In July August 2003, the exhibition revolved around the concept of “Dualities” – how life is made of opposites, each defining the other, and containing aspects of the other, such as :space” defining “form” or “hot” letting us perceive “cold”. Sometimes we balance these elements and sometimes we discover the synthesis that can arise from their combination or the “higher third” that Plato spoke about. It seems that this helps to drive life forward and is one of life’s challenges for us, dealing with differences and opposing views. The idea for an installation called “Ubuntu Civilisation” arose from researching the people centred values in Africa spoken about by Steve Biko and others. “Ubuntu” according to Makhudu (Philosophy from Africa) is about warmth, empathy, understanding, participation, sharing, harmony, cooperation, family, the Ancestors, communion of Human and Nature and much more. These are the positive attributes of Africa and are part of the ethos of the continent with all its many people. Celebrating these values seems to be a way of integrating the opposites and that the recognition of our common humanity is the way forward. The exhibition in September/October 2003 revolved around the concept of “Fragility”. Our time here seems so fleeting; the world around us is subject to constant change so that only a brief moment of it can be captured and frozen in time. I love visiting the bush and watching and drawing the life there and seeing the poignancy of tracks left in the sand; often all you ever see of the larger creatures. The comment embodied in each work marks the passing of things within the web of our being, for which one remains grateful. Life is ephemeral so we have to engage in the moment.
Generally, I believe that our interaction with the world is filtered through our view of it: our perception, principles, values and actions are based on what we understand of the nature of reality. My interpretation is that we live in a spiritual universe comprised of energy in varying forms and it is this energy that goes beyond self and which is shared with the viewer.
Veryan Edwards
Gaborone, Botswana
24/05/2004