StateoftheART is pleased to announce ALL THE BUZZ, a solo exhibition by Lisette Forsyth.
Renowned artist Lisette Forsyth is set to unveil her latest solo exhibition, “ALL THE BUZZ”, a poignant exploration of nature, society, and the intricate parallels between the two.
In a world where divisive politics and global conflict increasingly dominate the narrative, Forsyth finds herself turning to nature for solace. Her latest body of work is inspired by the humble beehive, stumbled upon amidst a pile of agricultural waste. This unexpected discovery led her to delve into the lives of bees, creatures whose complex communal social structures and behaviours offer a stark contrast to the isolated and self-serving values of contemporary human society.
“World politics and Man’s questionable need for violence have left me speechless,” Forsyth reflects. “I turn to nature for solace; this leads me to look at the life of the bee and their distinct roles in the hive. Engaged in a variety of complex tasks such as communication, nest construction, environmental control and division of labour – these are just some of the behaviours that honeybees have developed to exist successfully in social colonies.”
Through her art, Lisette Forsyth draws a compelling comparison between the interdependent life of bees and that of Mankind. She highlights how, in our modern world, we do not concern ourselves with our role or responsibility within a greater eco-system.
“Life in the hive brings me back to communal life amongst homo sapiens. Somehow, we have lost perspective of what is important. With fascination, I try to draw parallels and in this moment, I would like to herald our civil servants: our worker bees and unsung heroes, so important to the future of our species.”
Forsyth’s use of upcycled surfaces is both an environmental statement and an act of resistance against the threat of artificial intelligence. These surfaces are rich with age and exposure to nature, giving them a unique texture and depth that technology would struggle to replicate. “The use of the upcycled surfaces is an environmental choice as well as a challenge for AI to imitate - something that has history and has taken time to create in unique atmospheric conditions, constantly changing,” she explains.
As our reliance on technology grows at an unprecedented speed so too does the feeling of distance between us, our era of advancement on the cusp of digital dystopia. In reaction to this, Forsyth finds value in the sentiment that humans cannot survive in silos and suggests we can only thrive when in service to each other.
StateoftheART has represented Lisette Forsyth for thirteen years. This is her fifth solo exhibition with the gallery.
Exhibition Details:
- Title: All The Buzz
- Artist: Lisette Forsyth
- Dates: 30 November - 21 December 2024
- Venue: StateoftheART, 50 Buitenkant Street, Cape Town
About Lisette Forsyth
Lisette Bambine Forsyth (b. 1968) is a Cape Town based artist. The city and its residents, the people as well as the fauna and flora, are the inspiration for the artworks she creates.
Between 1992 and 1994, she completed an internship at Mechanical Graphics at the Bayerische Rundfunk, Germany - she then studied graphic design at the Cape Technicon, majoring in photography and printing in 1999. Lisette has exhibited nationally and internationally and was a Vuleka finalist in 2007. The artist’s national as well as international recognition and success are a testament to her ruthless dedication and boundless imaginative capacity.
Lisette has exhibited across Southern Africa and internationally with galleries in New York, Lisbon, Munich and Windhoek. Her work is ever changing and adapting to the social, political and cultural climate of the time, and is perhaps the reason why she is able to not only reach, but touch such a vast audience.
About StateoftheART
Established in 2010, StateoftheART is an independent contemporary gallery dedicated to representing artists from South Africa. The gallery comprises two spaces: an intimate exhibition space in the East City precinct of the Cape Town CBD, and a second space online, available to everyone regardless of geography.
StateoftheART is located at 50 Buitenkant Street, and is open Tuesday to Friday from 10am – 5pm, and Saturdays until 2pm.
www.stateoftheart-gallery.com
For more information about Lisette Forsyth contact Jennifer Reynolds on 0611291899 or view her artist portfolio here.
