An art student will have to wait a little longer to see her work at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) after the Covid-19 crisis saw the exhibition postponed.
Alison Grosch’s work was selected to be part of the Peter Clarke Arts Centre’s William Kentridge-inspired exhibition – which would have taken place on Friday March 20.
While the Groote Schuur High School Grade 11 was looking forward to her family and friends viewing her work at the prestigious venue, she says she understands sacrifices must be made to curb the spread of the virus.
Alison, from Zeekoeivlei, was in Grade 4 when she took an interest in art, but she only started focusing on it in Grade 8, when she started at the Peter Clarke Art Centre in Newlands.
“In the beginning I wasn’t quite sure which field of art I wanted to go into. There were three streams in art that I was interested in, but I felt attracted to design. Staying on this path helped me develop an interest for it.”
Alison became involved with the art centre through her school. The centre offers art to pupils from Grade 8 to matric.
“I did it in Grade 8 and 9 as an extra subject, and when it was time to choose our subjects in Grade 10, I decided to continue with design.”
Her design class went on an excursion to the Zeitz Mocaa Museum earlier this year, where they were tasked with creating art based on William Kentridge’s work that explored society’s struggles.
“When we completed our pieces, representatives of the museum came to our art school and chose a few artworks in the design group from Grade 11 and 12. I was delighted to find out that my artwork was chosen, and it was going to be exhibited at the museum in honour of Mr Kentridge’s work,” says Alison.
Her work, she says, explores rhino poaching and man’s greed.
“It shows a silhouette of a rhino with its horn broken off. Underneath the rhino’s feet, there is blood dripping down, spelling out a message ‘Help Save The Rhino’. Right at the bottom, there’s people and flames which represents the dangers that can affect the animal.”
Alison’s father, Warren, says: “For her work to have been chosen, shows the dedication and discipline she has towards her work. We’ve been with her on this journey from the start and we’ll be with her till the end.”
Alison says she is looking forward to her work being displayed when the time was right.
Zeitz Mocaa is currently closed in line with restrictions put in place to stem the spread of Covid-19.
