Sara Abbott Featured in the Intethe Gallery Newsletter

"Gallery Intethe, situated on the most loved pedestrian street in the village of Hermanus, enables an easy feeling of disconnect from the wider world. The sea breeze energises the most laconic and around the corner the whales laze in Walker Bay, blowing, as they breathe, upwardly mobile fountains. If lucky enough to time your presence to be at the water’s edge, the whales’ calling their strange, haunting songs to their neighbours further away, reverberates through the air, sending shivers down the spine. After the winter rains, the mountains shimmer with contrasting velvet greens, yellows, mauves and shades of blue. A wander along the carefully tended, rocky mountain paths reveal the magic of emerging spring flowering bulbs, majestic proteas and ericas all ready to show off their magnificent beauty to welcome back warmer weather. Bird life abounds and the symphonic harmony of singing sugarbirds, doves and the shrill call of eagles circling overhead, complete this paradisical environment.

Who, in such circumstances of perfection could possibly imagine the present daily horror of living in Ukraine, the drying of the great rivers of Europe (with the emergence of previous wars’ relics being exposed) and the horrific flooding consuming nearly all of Pakistan, killing and displacing millions of people and wreaking misery and havoc upon all its inhabitants and animal life.

Sara Abbott lives in the pristine environment of the Western Cape and focuses on the surrounding countryside. Her concerns concentrate on the effects of global warming. The climate is slowly displaying its forcefulness, in terms of the visibility of rising waters, and the disappearance of creatures sharing these environs.

She lives alongside the Klein River, which runs along the edge of a small village, Stanford in the Overberg. There, she has observed the changes in the river for several decades and knows its personality intimately.

In these two enchanting depictions of the Klein River in flood, she uses pastel to create a tangible sense of the liquidity of the rushing water, its sound and a strong sense of the all-encompassing water.

In the first drawing, the oxen pull their bodies against the tide, their necks outstretched against the force of the water. The gathering storm clouds swirl, suggesting oncoming rains and another downburst. Waves build, adding to the deep sense of drama, as the determined animals sense danger and plough their way to hoped-for safety.

The colour palette is contained contrasting shades of blue, aquamarine, and greys with accents of light provided by the shimmering white of the animals’ fur, the gold of their horns, and the last rays of sunshine.

The second drawing depicts the atmosphere after the storm has passed. The horse enters the water, suggesting a familiarity with its environment, water splashing behind its hind legs as its head reaches out to go forwards. The foliage of suggested trees growing on the riverbank merge with the sky, the pastel strokes implying a breeze, contrasting with the river’s still water. Reflections suggest sunlight and calm.

Both drawings are atmospheric and are filled with movement and energy. They offer the viewer an appreciation of the skill of Abbot’s artistic hand, her technique honed by years of practice and her sensitive eye.

These beautiful drawings are available at Intethe Gallery 25 High Street Hermanus."

Source: Intethe Gallery Newsletter

For more information, contact Sara Abbott Studio.