Self-Portrait, 18,088 Days

Self Portrait, 18,088 Days is an installation of stones located in the landscape at the Nirox Foundation in South Africa. The work explores the marking of time whilst acknowledging our connection to earth and geological time. The number 18,088 represents the number of days from birth to the present day (May 12th, 2018). The stones are a metaphor for the thousands of stories we carry within that make up individual lives. The NIROX Foundation will host its annual Winter sculpture exhibition, in collaboration with the Swedish sculpture park, Wanås Konst/The Wanås Foundation. The exhibition is supported by The Swedish Postcode Foundation. The title "NOT A SINGLE STORY" is inspired by “The Danger of a Single Story,” a TED Talk presented by Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, positing that diversity strengthens rather than divides us. The exhibition is a bicontinental exchange between two of the world’s leading sculpture parks and the selected artists come from various backgrounds, representing a rich diversity of perspectives and influences. "NOT A SINGLE STORY" is interested in showcasing works by forerunners alongside emerging artists. By looking at overlapping dialogues through concurrent individual practices, contemporary concerns fuse together to form an open topography of viewpoints. The preliminary artist list of 20+ participants consists predominantly of women artists in response to a very singular art history. The exhibition will combine existing works alongside newly developed productions. Among others, the artists include: Yoko Ono (JP/US), Esther Mahlangu (ZA), Lubaina Himid (TZ/UK), Nandipha Mntambo (ZA), Mary Sibande (ZA), Nelisiwe Xaba (ZA), Claudette Schreuders (ZA), Jane Alexander (ZA), Marcia Kure (NG), Bronwyn Katz (ZA), Beth Diane Armstrong (ZA), Frances Goodman (ZA), Mwangi-Hutter (KE-DE), Marianne Lindberg De Geer (SE), Lungiswa Gqunta (ZA) ,Sethembile Msezane (ZA), Marcia Kure (NG/US), Gunilla Klingberg & Peter Geschwind (SE), Caroline Mårtensson (SE), Whitney McVeigh (UK), Sophia Van Wyk (ZA) and Lena Cronqvist (SE)