Childsplay for misfits
by
Thelma van Rensburg
29 October 2021
Our deepest wounds are carried by the child within. The collages and watercolours in this exhibition represents a look into inner child work as a path to healing past trauma. Inner child work is the process of contacting, understanding, embracing, and healing the inner child. The inner child represents the first original self that entered into this world; s/he contains the capacity to experience wonder, joy, innocence, sensitivity, and playfulness. When the inner child gets stuck in trauma at some stage of life, the "adult" can experience ailments such as mental illness, physical ailments and relationship dysfunction.
My exploration of my own inner child wounds includes re-purposing art works created between 2005-2021, which includes linocuts, watercolours, ink drawings, etchings and handmade paper by cutting up and arranging them into playful but somewhat grotesque collages, hereby emulating the naiveté and humour of children's drawings. The works represents my experimentation with mediums from a historical context which also encapsulates my subconscious attempts to heal my own childhood trauma. The watercolour portraits similarly has a raw, playful and grotesque aura to them, and references the family misfit, scapegoat or overlooked mentally ill parent.
Thelma van Rensburg was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1969. Van Rensburg always had an interest in art, but did not pursue it as a career until 2004. She has a B.A Honours degree in Physical education and Psychology. In 2004 she decided to enroll for a B.Tech degree in Fine Arts at Tshwane University of Technology which she completed in 2007. In 2013 she re-enrolled at the University of Pretoria for the final year of the BA degree in Fine Arts and completed the year cum laude. In 2016 she completed a Masters of Arts degree in Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria, titled Uneasy bodies, femininity and death: Representing the female corpse in fashion photography and selected contemporary artworks.
Since graduating, she has participated in eight solo exhibitions and numerous group exhibitions throughout South Africa. Her work has featured in prestigious competitions such as Sasol New Signatures, Thami Mnyele Fine Arts awards and the Sanlam Vuleka Arts competition. She also attended three artist residencies in Berlin and Mexico from 2015 to 2018.
Thelma van Rensburg
"A heavy load to carry"
2021
Mixed media collage from repurposed art on paper
32cm x 52cm
Unframed
R 2 670
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Thelma van Rensburg
"Into hidden depths and melancholic darkness"
2021
Watercolour and ink on paper
41cm x 25.5cm
Unframed
R 2 000
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Thelma van Rensburg
"Psychedelic misfit"
2021
Watercolour on vintage paper
43.5cm x 25.5cm
Unframed
SOLD
Thelma van Rensburg
"States of transformation in the mentally ill"
2021
Watercolour on vintage paper
42.5cm x 25.5cm
Unframed
R 2 000
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Thelma van Rensburg
"Me and Schiele composition #1"
2021
Mixed media collage from repurposed art on vintage book cover
19.5cm x 13cm
Unframed
R 750
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Thelma van Rensburg
"Me and Schiele composition #2"
2021
Mixed media collage from repurposed art on vintage book cover
20cm x 13cm
Unframed
R 750
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Thelma van Rensburg
"Me and Schiele composition #3"
2021
Mixed media collage from repurposed art on vintage book cover
19cm x 12cm
Unframed
R 750
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Thelma van Rensburg
"Me and Schiele composition #4"
2021
Mixed media collage from repurposed art on vintage book cover
19cm x 12cm
Unframed
R 750
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page
TWO
All the artworks are for sale.
If you are interested in purchasing any of the works, please email us at
artlovers1932@gmail.com
or click for purchase enquiry below any specific artwork
The prices exclude shipping
and arrangements can be made for paying off any purchases, interest free, over a reasonable period of time.
artlovers1932@gmail.com
079 707 0508 Wilna Panagos
Art Lovers 1932
198 Premier Avenue
Waterkloof
Pretoria
STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT
Please call Samuel Isaacs at 082 556 0922 to make arrangements
Art Lovers 1932
