Eszter kismőSRHM CEO, interview with South African artist Grace Cross, whose painting is presented on the cover of Open Joses Srhm 2021.
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Grace Cross is a painter born Zimbabwe, who draws symbols from feminism, motherhood, home and belief structures. The art of Cross is inspired by women throughout history, the execution of archeology and African cosmology. Her work addresses our deep history – bringing together the transformative cultural wisdom and stories to reflect the abundance and variety of life she sees around her.
Cross’s paintings reflect its cultural broadcast on national border. Throughout her childhood, she moved between continents. He was brought up in Zimbabwe, Kenya, Greece, India, the United States and finally South Africa where he lives today. Her diverse upbringing informs her painting practice, where she merges her cultural narrative, spirituality and archaeological extraction of symbols in its powerful and color canvas.
Last Cross series, Atlas is a womanIt explores the psychological and natural burden carried by women of South Africa. The series began when Cross’s daughter would only go to bed when she was tight on her back. The Cross took many great walks to sleep her daughter – an experience that took her to think of the great expectations that mothers are being asked to fulfill, both historically and today. Similarly with the Greek myth of Atlas, a Titan condemned to keep the heavenly skies for eternity on his shoulders, the painted forms of the cross are naturally burdened. Bending over women who see Cross paintings carry children and global spheres on their backs, except for their own psychological and physical difficulties. They are symbols of endurance and power.
“The burden of being a mother is taking on the cultural pressure of shaping and improving the world for future generations,” says Cross. Women, and mothers in particular, are central to her art. Much of the experiences and struggles of women have been overlooked and assumed in history. By weaving the cultural fabric of motherhood and ritual on its canvas, Cross hopes to chart space that celebrates the importance of mothers everywhere. Mothers who intersect in her art pay tribute to the force required to raise children. The elements of the mother depicted show their lively sexuality and infectious fragility. Properties that are rarely attributed to mothers in the history of art. Instead of coy, a virgin mother who plagues so many women’s representations, Cross women are unexpected lions for their sexuality and power.
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Another issue covered by the art of cross is domestic violence. Responding to the Covid-19 pandemic, many countries have adopted home residence commands, which means that many women were confined to abusive partners. Cross’s paintings serve to watch, pay attention and honor women and their experiences.
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Cross canvas also depict the history of labor women. Here are a blood line that connects the experiences of many women. Indeed, red is used to talk about the umbilical cord that connects mothers and babies, the menstrual blood that marks one’s entry into adolescence or blood that is thrown by injuries associated with domestic violence. Cross uses the color in its paintings to emote. The colors indicate stories and stories of lust, love and diversity of life.
“A particular blindness”, the painting chosen for the open version of SRHM 2021, depicts a mouth that has swallowed a universe. Inspired by the story of Pandora’s box – behind the bleached, anonymous lips of the figure, it is revealed as a world of colors and a cacophony of shapes and textures. Eyes looking out of the mouth represent the importance of multiple perspectives and freedom of speech. Cross’s art work is a celebration of the diversity of people and opinions. Within all of us, there is a strong and happy chaos of views, emotions and instructions that push us in front of the cruel and fascinating world we all live in.
Cross art maps a colorful world of disassembled figures that reflect our own emotional divisions. It offers a promising vision for the future, where women and mothers are celebrated for their power, views and cultural implications. As the great Laos Jou once said, “the beginning of everyone is the mother of everyone. We really know that the mother is to know her children and really know the children is to go back to the mother.”
Grace Cross graduated with her MFA at the University of Illinois in Chicago in 2016 and holds a BFA from the Michaelis Art School at the University of Cape Town, for which he was awarded the Judy Steiner Painting Award in 2010. He has participated in numerous group exhibitions. The Cross is a grant recipient from the University of Illinois in Chicago, the US and the National Council of Arts in South Africa. He has participated in many art exhibitions in South Africa and abroad, having a solo booth at Joburg Art Fair in 2016. He has worked in the collections of the first African collection, Spier Arts Trust and Cape Town University. Cross lives and works as a mother and painter in Cape Town .
To find out more, follow Cross On Instagram.
