visuals of the exhibition

the exhibition in Oudtshoorn was split into two venues:

the Queens Hotel Conference Hall

Norman Catherine
Marc Edwards
Tracy Gander
Stephen Hobbs
Kim Lieberman
Robin Rhode

and the Principia College Drama Room

Abrie Fourie
Brad Hammond
Stefanus Rademeyer

video of exhibition
(only available offline)

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in retrospect

the exhibition was well attended with the festival audience showing a large interest in the visual arts component.the visitors ranged from people educated in either art or technology, conservatives expecting paintings and sculptures, to people welcoming experimentation and new concepts. therefore the response was equally diverse. most response exclaimed interest and acceptance of the potential and shift that the use of new technology allows. others questioned whether this was art and even voiced their frustration of being confronted with technology, while some did not even dare enter the exhibition spaces.

the artists Stefanus Rademeyer, Abrie Fourie and Stephen Hobbs which, thank you to SASOL, were able to be in Oudtshoorn, assisted with the set-up not only of their own work but also of the whole exhibition. their presence at the exhibition also gave visitors the opportunity of communicating with the artists. Marcus Neustetter was also present to introduce the audience to the new media art and his approach to curating the exhibition.

a lecture on technology and art by Lucia Burger and a series of formal and informal walkabouts and discussions were successful in informing the public and allowed the audience an opportunity to respond. much response was also noted in the visitors book. these entries range from concerns of confusion and frustration to appreciation and enthusiasm for the new media and the artists use of it. while the responses were at times either extremely positive or extremely negative, there was however hardly any sign of indifference. the exhibition caused most of the audience to relook their own expectation of art as well as being confronted with difficulties of the new media such as technophobia and a new language for addressing the works. in conversation many expressed the excitement of the possibilities and future of this type of art production. even though they agreed that it was difficult to come to terms with the exhibition at first, the relationship of the traditional works to the new media works by each artist made the shift and acceptance of this new type of production and presentation easier.

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