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Praat

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The artEC Gallery, at 36 Bird Street Central, kicks off its exhibition calendar this year at 5:30 pm today, Tuesday 31 January, with the opening of the long anticipated show by the 2010 New Signatures winner, Tegan Sampson and friends.

The exhibition is titled “Praat”, because this is a close knit group of artists who have studied and worked together, bouncing ideas off each other, and having a sort of creative conversation which frequently reflects in the body of work when it comes together.

The participating artists are: Tegan Sampson – sculpture, Ryan Hugo – painting and drawing, Keegan Blazey – painting, Andre le Roux – painting, Alhyrian Laue – sculpture and drawing, Emma Minkly – sculpture, Janno Scholtz – sculpture.

Tegan sent the following explanation and poem:

In 2010 I won the artEC New Signatures exhibition, the prize being a solo exhibition. Since there are a number of National art competitions that require an artist not to have had a solo exhibition, I decided to invite a group of artists who I have been working with closely, over the past four years. I am interested in how a visual and intellectual conversation has developed within the group and would like to curate this exhibition as a showcase of the various personalities involved. In vindication of an expected conceptual synopsis, I instead present to you this poem:

Haphazardly she speaks,
But, they want to hear a clear explanation.
Yet, we praat and sing, smoking cathartic cigarettes
in an attempt to swallow the ritual head.

Oh the headiness of pataphysics,
come now and see a window with a face behind it,
still stretching the projection that far exceeds the expanse.

Come and be,
the dream with the streetwise formalism,
where poetry is not an academic configuration
but a confrontation with the right side of your head.

Oh the headiness of pataphysics,
All she can say further is ta dada.

Praat runs until 11 February 2012.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.