art
The Haidee Nel Collection.
Born 1977, Potchefstroom, Gauteng, South Africa
Lives and works in Swellendam, South Africa
Haidee Nel works mainly with wood, cement, fabric and resin. She manipulates identity and texture. Infantry, a series of sculptures of girls and boys in quirky military uniforms are subversively playful and innovative. And thought-provoking. Each sculpture is unique, with characteristic colour and style variations and carries the 'unspoken voice' of these mute warriors.
Nel is the recipient of numerous prizes, and as a former student of Jane Alexander, is one of South Africa's leading sculptors.
HAIDEE NEL
Haidee Nel’s Infantry, a series of sculptures of girls and boys in quirky military uniforms are subversively playful and even colorful. They are also thought-provoking. The figures are presented and installed in formation to an unknown battleground.
Like protesting students, vulnerable gunshot victims, police brutality victims, guerrilla army fighters, war shields, survivors of family violence, or victims Catholic sexual abuse and so much more; they are vulnerable, hopeful, but not innocent. Their masks of control are unconvincing.
This future into which they are blindly and tentatively moving, is dangerous and very deeply uncertain.
Each sculpture is unique, with characteristic colour and style variations.
“Infantry” is the 'unspoken voice' of these mute warriors.
