NIEU-BETHESDA NEWS - The famous Owl House will be featured in an exhibition and documentary to be held in Italy in July.
Titled “The Owl House, the Dream of light of Helen Martins” and “African histories, my gipsy heart” respectively, this international exposure comes thanks to Tuscan painter / photographer Sabrina Marianelli.
Marianelli has been working on this presentation since 2013, inspired by her travels in the Eastern Cape in 2012 and 2018, which she explored together with Port St Johns photographer John Costello.
Stories from African experiences
“I visited the Owl House; my paintings from the African Histories series were inspired by his photographs,” Marianelli told Graaff-Reinet Advertiser in an interview.
“The Owl House, Helen Martins’ house / museum in Nieu-Bethesda, has the finest example of outsider art in Southern Africa. Martins spent nearly 30 years of her life transforming her home and garden, creating a visionary, dazzling world of glass and concrete sculptures. This was made possible in collaboration with Koos Malgas, the sculptor of the Owl House, [who was] of Bushman descent - her mind, his hands. Their story should be known in Italy too.”
She said that the different stories intertwine in a narrative that has many points in common.
“They depict my journey, my life, lived experiences, emotions felt, and people met and photographed during my travels in South Africa and Namibia.”
The exhibition will also feature a series of watercolours dedicated to the African Rock Art movement.
About the artist
Marianelli has received numerous awards from leading Italian and international art critics (Vittorio Sgarbi, Premio Mestre-giuria Philippe Daverio, Riccardo Ferrucci, Luxembourg Art Prize and more).
Many of her works are held in private collections in Italy, Spain, Borneo, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, South Africa and Malaysia.
The exhibition is entirely funded by the Regional Council of Tuscany and the Municipality of Terricciola, for which Marianelli expressed appreciation.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the Municipality of Terricciola, the Regional Council of Tuscany, La Compagnia del Bosco and the South African Embassy of their assistance and contributions.
“When one vision meets another vision, it’s an open door to the future.”
The national premiere will be at Teatro Gherardi del Testa, in the Tuscan hills, where the exhibition and documentary will be presented as a single event on 4 July from 17:30, admission free.
“How I would love for people from Nieu-Bethesda to be present as well,” said Marianelli.
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