Arena

Matthew van der Walt

20.01.2022 - 03.03.2022

New Media Room

Matthew van der Walt is a multi-disciplinary artist based between Gauteng and Cape Town, South Africa. He is currently in his second year of studies at the University of Pretoria (BFA). His practice aims to address the impact of private and public environments upon the constructed persona and how these spaces function within a geopolitical framework. Through a multi-disciplinary approach, the artist aims to highlight constructed imagery and challenge pre-existing notions surrounding that which we interact with daily.

The exhibition consists of video projections, the placement of found objects, and the inclusion of large scale photographic prints exploring the historical significance of so far unexplored geopolitical spaces. Through the specific combination, these recreational spaces play out notions of power and politics. The show explores a process of deconstructing recreational, public swimming pools across South Africa to expose truths that lie behind the mirage of South Africa’s colonial and racial history. The work draws on research of South African timelines, specifically pre-1994 democratic elections and post-1994 elections. It questions notions surrounding van der Walt’s own privilege, as well as a shared experience of white leisure. The installation further discusses accessibility of swimming pools, recreational use of these, as well as their construction and maintenance.