KAI LOSSGOTT in the Project Room at Grande Provence

The Gallery at GRANDE PROVENCE

FRANSCHHOEK LITERARY FESTIVAL SPECIAL EXHIBITION: FEATURING – KAI LOSSGOTT - 'lexicography of the heart' (Project Room), as well as SAREL PETRUS, CRAIG MULLER and LONI DRÄGER.

1 May - 1 June 2011. (The Franschhoek Literary Festival 14 and 15 May 2011.)

Contemporary art meets literature in May at Grande Provence during the Franschhoek Literary Festival. Contemporary artist and poet Kai Lossgott will be launching his intimate collection of poems – ‘talking to the tree outside the window while I sleep’ – during the festival, concurrent with his exhibition in the ‘Project Room’ at the gallery.

"Sometimes rarified. Sometimes rough. Exciting. Always Real. The urge to rub your face and body in the pages of this book, like you would with leaves in a pile of Autumn, rises—takes you over, allowing the beauty of the images and words to grow into you. The surrender is easy." (Tania van Schalkwyk, Ingrid Jonker Prize for Poetry 2010)

'talking to the tree outside my window while I sleep' can be purchased at the gallery, and also be paged through and ordered at www.kailossgott.com. (Date and time for the launch to follow.)

The book, which showcases a careful selection of three years’ work of engravings on plant leaves, has been praised for its intimate evocation of the personal element in green politics. Lossgott’s work embodies a global shift in identity towards finding intrinsic value in all living things apart from human gain. The artist connects intricate human biological processes to the greater ecology. He refers to similarities between plant and human anatomy, such as a light-sensitive ‘skin’, with branches and capillaries containing blood or sap. “Both plant and human skin scars, heals, remembers,” he says.

The following artists are also included in the exhibition: Sarel Petrus - sculptures , Craig Muller – sculptures, and Loni Dräger with an installation themed ‘Skins’. Loni will also be showcasing a selection of ‘stone succulents’ in the Courtyard.

The exhibition will be opened on Sunday, 1 May 2011 at 11h00 by Gordon Froud and will be on view until 1 June 2011.

In the Main Gallery, renowned artist Paul Boulitreau will be exhibiting 'The Mute Opera', a series of paintings. There will also be sculptures by Michaella Janse van Vuuren.

Gallery hours: Monday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00. For further information and images, contact The Gallery at +27 (0)21 876 8630.