Mirroring Ourselves (1998) | AVA Gallery Cape Town

Given a fascination with metaphysical reality, it seems logical to use the art making process to access inner verities. These generally remain out of reach of my understanding were it not for the artistic intervention. But I am less concerned with Jungian-style epistemologies, instead and perhaps predictably given my concern for the individual, I am interested in a darker, Freudian approach. Given these facts I try to access unconscious realities in my working process. In this sense the sculptures reflect (mirror) an inner world. The mirror that is held up reflects fragments of reality. Because the elusive nature of the subconscious, verities are apprehended rather than defined. The images are therefore mirrored through a glass darkly.

The artists share a concern with a metaphysical reality. Both painter and sculptor use the art making process to access inner verities that would remain out of reach of their understanding were it not for their artistic interventions. Bardavid is concerned with Jungian-style epistemologies while Cruise, perhaps predictably given her concern for the individual, is interested in a darker, Freudian approach. Nevertheless both artists deal with unconscious realities in their working processes. In this sense their works reflect (mirror) their inner worlds.

Cruise's figures make a break from the exclusively ceramic medium for which she is primarily known. Plaster, paper and ceramic are used to construct life-size figures. These armless, sexual and faceless forms emanate from the shadow lands of the artist's subconscious. The meaning of the figures are decoded in a series of text and drawings exhibited alongside the sculptures. The act of writing mimics the process of (self) psychoanalysis.

The expressionistic power of the works is a mirror for emotional realities that in a general sense fall outside structures created by language. Because the nature of the subconscious is elusive verities are apprehended rather than defined. The images the artists have created are therefore mirrored through a glass darkly.