In the exhibition, the cannibals’ banquet, Grobler presents a collection of six large-scale sculptures, two large charcoal drawings, a series of seven etchings, together with a collection of drawing books. The exhibition captures Grobler’s obsession with assembling vastly diverse materials into complex compositions. This obsession is spurred on by her interest in discarded objects and waste materials that she encounters on flea markets and on scrap yards.

The Michaelis School of Fine Art is pleased to present the cannibals’ banquet by Isabelle Grobler. This exhibition is the first of a series of exhibitions in 2013 focused on giving recent Michaelis Masters in Fine Arts students an opportunity to show the final projects which earned them their Masters degrees. The exhibition runs from the 23rd of January 2013 to the 8th of February 2013. Please join us on Thursday 24 January 2013, in the Egyptian Hall, Michaelis School of Fine Arts, from 13:00 – 14:00 for a walkabout with the artist (no charge and no booking required, refreshments will be served).
In the exhibition, the cannibals’ banquet, Grobler presents a collection of six large-scale sculptures, two large charcoal drawings, a series of seven etchings, together with a collection of drawing books. The exhibition captures Grobler’s obsession with assembling vastly diverse materials into complex compositions. This obsession is spurred on by her interest in discarded objects and waste materials that she encounters on flea markets and on scrap yards.
On a thematic and conceptual level, Grobler’s creative work focuses on aspects of consumerism and social hierarchies, with a particular interest in found and discarded objects and their reconfiguration through the practice of assemblage. Her creative process is primarily based on cannibalising objects in order to re-assemble them in new monstrous wholes. The image of the monster pervades this project and is presented in a humoristic and satirical manner. As a composite being, the monster serves as a useful analogy for the assembled artwork.
Born in Pretoria, Grobler grew up in Bloemfontein and spent her childhood years between the family farm and town. After a career as a Junior Springbok hockey player, Grobler proved her versatility by completing her BA degree in Fine Art at the University of the Free State in 2009 and her Master of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town in 2012. Grobler is currently living and working in Cape Town.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR FOR FURTHER / HIGH RES IMAGES, PLEASE CONTACT NADJA DAEHNKE, TEL 082 316 5272 OR nadja.daehnke@uct.ac.za

  • EXHIBITION OPENS: WEDNESDAY 23 JANUARY 2013
  • PUBLIC WALKABOUT with the artist: Thursday 24 January from 13:00 – 14:00 (free of charge)
  • EXHIBITION CLOSES: 8 FEBRUARY 2013