Home-Grown Talent
There’s more to Cape Town than mountains, you know. Robyn Simpson is putting a spotlight on local creatives doing lekker things.
Disclaimer: The images in this article were shared with permission from the artist. They are not to be reshared or printed for personal use. Don’t be a horrible person. Support local creatives.
Strokes of Genius
Marlene Steyn grew up in Stellenbosch, between the mountains and all her siblings, as she recalls. It was also here that she completed her undergraduate studies before heading to London, where she earned a Masters degree in painting at the esteemed Royal College of Art. Ever since, her artistic prowess has transcended borders, leaving an indelible impression on audiences worldwide.
Similar to the timeless allure of the oldest town in the Cape, Marlene’s captivating creations possess an inherent aesthetic beauty. But, delving beyond the surface, you will discover that each piece holds a curious depth, beckoning exploration.
She describes her art as a form of archaeological excavation, exposing her own desires, inner child, fleeting thoughts and dreams. Marlene’s collections include both surreal paintings and intriguingly grotesque pottery, serving as tangible manifestations of her unconscious mind. ‘It’s a slow process and paintbrush-y meditation to become more comfortable with all my parts, known and suppressed, current and ancestral,’ she says. ‘It’s a way to expand my outlines, open them up and to express my subjectivity outside of a language defined by binary oppositions. It’s a little vertiginous.’
Marlene seamlessly intertwines self-reflection and the quest for connection, drawing inspiration from various facets of life, including childhood wonder, motherhood, mental well-being, being a woman and being wild. The female form takes centre stage amid a fusion of organic and domestic elements, evident in her paintings that merge scenes of reclining loins and exposed breasts with branching trees and gushing rivers. All the while, hammocks made of hair and children on swings spawn from limbs that simultaneously cradle the structures of homes. With every lingering gaze, you are rewarded with the discovery of previously unnoticed nuggets.
Impeccable detail is forfeited for a more haptic, spontaneous approach to her clay and ceramic works. In contrast to her paintings, which take months to complete, she surrenders to gravity, instability and conditioning, working with still-wet materials that mimic ever-changing states of subjectivity. For Marlene, clay being historically associated with fragility and domesticity makes it all the more appealing. She twists and challenges feminine discourse, serving viewers a platter of organless torsos and feasts of gaping holes.
Marlene aspires for her audience to find resonance within the inherent strangeness of her work, allowing it to serve as a catalyst for introspection and exploration of their own inner world. The impact, you might discover, can be enduringly comforting or wildly uncomfortable – perhaps even both.
Marlene’s artistry will once again grace the walls of SMAC Gallery this October, as well as in London at Lychee One as part of a two-women show with Qian Qian. Her work can be purchased through these establishments.
‘In Her Landscape’, Marlene’s duo show with Qian Qian is currently on at @lycheeone Gallery in London until 14 October.
SMAC Gallery is located on the first floor at The Palms, 145 Sir Lowry Rd, Woodstock, Cape Town. Stay up to date with Marlene’s movements by following her on Instagram (@marlenehettie).
Also read:
Meet the Waterblommetjies: Cape Town’s committed cold plungers
Picture: Supplied
