Danielle Van Wyk

Artist Catalogue

Virtual Exhibition

Vessels of Honour

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” - Genesis 1:26

“Let Us make”

This statement provides the basis for how the project unfolds. A collaboration of the Trinity in the process of creation. We make things as we perceive them. The very tactile nature of clay seeps through the barriers created in conversation. It creates a space for participants to share their views on the issues of Gender Based Violence in the world. Participants are invited to create a ceramic vessel as they converse the issues relating to GBV. The project is open to all as everyone has something to say about GBV.

“Let them have dominion”

With differing opinions, conversations become interesting as they evoke new ways of thinking about this disease plaguing our country. Everything starts with a conversation. What does it mean for man to have dominion on the earth? Man had dominion in harmony in Eden. Today we see the grappling of a power struggle. The clay holds the tension of decisions we make as a society. The vessels capture the moment of negotiation of space and time, of power and vulnerability. It begs the question of just what our role is in the current war on body, soul, and spirit.

We are dust unto dust. The process of making vessels is a metaphorical practice of God forming Adam from the dust of the ground. “And then God breathed into Adam, and He became a living being”. The conversation breathes life into the vessel as we meditatively work together to form sculptured solutions to the issues in the world.

The vessels have transformed from mere static containers of life, emerging into beings that demand to have a voice. Sonically, some of the vessels range in diverse sounds all crying out “Justice, Justice!” Viewers are invited to continue the collaboration process by interacting with the vessels in their own unique way and ring out the voice that demands to be heard.

In collaboration with

Melusi Prince Dlamini, Ayesha Price, Jane Alexander, Ben Orkin, Ronald Ngum, Robyn Williams, Camryn Donson, Gina Bolligello, Boipelo Rakau, Stanley Amon, Nyasha Piyo, Mandisa Mteshana, York Froon, Nkone Chaka, Jenna Arendse, Jennifer Kleinsmith, Layan Alshehri, YunYoung Ahn, Siphenathi Mneno, Phumza Nongena