Dawni is an artist who's paintings and sculptural objects combine arresting forms with fine tactile quality. She is excited and inspired by nature, her works reflect a large array of visual experience and the myriad possibilities of texture, design and colour found therein. Trained as a graphic designer, she spent many years painting, sculpting, hand printing and hand dyeing fabric under her label "One Women Walking" She worked for many years in UK and Europe in the fields of graphics, design and textiles. Her Paintings are among some of today's most intriguing contemporary art, her works are inspired by nature, they carry a deep unspeakable message which resonates with today's awakening generation. Most of her sculpture is in the form of Paper Mache, as far as paper mache reaches, she has very considerable technical skill, and a deep love and understanding for the basic material. Paper is an unpretentious and versatile medium. In the hands of a skilled crafts person it can speak many languages; sing beautiful songs. Slow to make, and therefore rare, Dawni's mixed media objects and pots are precise, original and full of vitality. An accumulation of sensations, with meticulous attention to detail. Paper has a timeless quality, and in this expendable age, links man with his activities and his environment.
Biography.
Born: 1949, Vereeniging, Transvaal, South Africa, of South African parents.
Studies: 3 Year Graphic Design course, Pretoria Art College.
Trained as a Scene Painter for PACT, Transvaal.
1974 Trained as a Textile designer with Ivo Prints, Shepherds Bush, London.
Exhibitions: 1979 Group Exhibition. Large Fibre Sculptures. Pretoria Art College.
1982 Carriage House Gallery. Hand painted textiles.
1985 Carriage House Gallery. Hand painted textiles.
1989 Lancing Farm Gallery. Printed textiles and Paper sculptures.
1991 Lancing Farm Gallery. Printed textiles, Paintings and Paper Sculptures.
1996 Lancing Farm Gallery. Printed textiles, Paintings and Paper Sculptures.
2012 Group Exhibition. Oori Reserve Gallery. Paintings, Collage, Paper Sculptures.
Artists Statement.
'Works of Art are of an infinite solitariness, and nothing is less likely to bring us near to them than criticism.
Only Love can apprehend and hold them, and can be just towards them.'
Rainer Maria Rilke.
This body of work is entitled 'Layman's Alchemy'....the Magic of Everyday Things.
And this theme is carried throughout the work, the images, typography, and paper cut-outs.
I've always had a love affair with paper.
Paper, with its timeless, undemanding quality. It is with us everyday, in every way, and endless possibilities remain for its use in an artistic way.
All these works are created with paper, and I'm hoping it is evident that the making process is of equal importance to the finished result.
It's never endingly interesting to note how pieces of paper seem to present themselves and fall into arresting abstract design, not planned, somehow guided.
Areas of tension often exist, which I do believe subliminally engage the viewer, but, of course, I like to think that my work carries with it relentless search for a fine balance.
The Paper cut-outs are centered on bi-lateral symmetry, and it's perfectly demanding end result, intensely satisfying, completely absorbing joyful work.