Lerato Motaung’s ‘Traces In The Still Air’ delves into how memory and grief shape our identities. At the heart of the exhibition is an installation featuring 33 swings , each representing a year of Motaung’s life. These wings are suspended from the roof and serve as symbols of life’s journey and the intertwined nature of memory and loss. Motaung’s work explores cultural identity, personal experiences and recollections through visual narratives. Utilising various media such as painting and sculpture, Motaung intricately examines human life and the interplay between individual and collective stories. His work is characterised by a manipulation of colour combinations, compositions and materials to convey the intricate network of cultural identities.
The worn tires evoke nostalgia and the passage of time, inviting reflections on childhood and joy. Broken glasses symbolise life’s pain and challenges. This exhibition invites viewers to explore the delicate balance between the fragility of memory and the permanence of loss, offering a contemplative space to engage with the emotions tied to grief, nostalgia and the inevitable passage of time. Motaung was a finalist in the Sasol New Signature Awards hosted by the Pretoria Art Museum in 2021. He also participated in the artist residency program “Our Africa, Our Future” in Senegal in 2022, hosted by the African Union. His group exhibitions span internationally and include the ‘Motaung/Seakamela’ show at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2023; ‘The Playground’ at Haart Gallery, London in 2023; as well as the ‘Africa Now’ exhibition at THK Gallery in Cologne, Germany in 2022.
Motaung won The Emergence Art Prize in 2020, organised by THK Gallery with support from Rand Merchant Bank. Additionally, he undertook a two-month residency at the Quartier am Hafen Studio House in Cologne in spring 2022. His work has been acquired by notable collections worldwide including two large paintings at Christie’s from 1-54 Paris, acquired by Foundation H (Paris, Madagascar); a large-scale painting for a planned museum in Cardiff, Wales; as well as two paintings in the Africa First Collection. Motaung’s artistic journey continues to captivate audiences and leaves a lasting impression on the global art scene. ‘Traces In The Still Air’ opened on the 5th of October 2024 and will be open until the 2nd of November 2024 on 13 Viljoen Street, Lorentzville in Johannesburg.
