Until September 08, Dineo Seshee Bopape plunges Swiss audiences into a lyrical universe where dreams take center stage. Exploring the links between fragments of material form, life and self, the artist presents her new solo show “(ka) pheko ye – the dream to come” at the Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst in collaboration with the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki.
This exhibition, a true masterpiece by the South African artist, not only presents works, but also creates a captivating dreamlike ecosystem. Dineo Seshee Bopape draws her inspiration from elements such as water, forests, dreams, the earth and the tales of African rainmakers. In many indigenous cultures, the dream world is used for healing through plant life forms. All these realities, observed in minute detail, have inspired the contemporary artist in the creation of her work.
For Dineo Seshee Bopape, the soil, an omnipresent theme in the exhibition, becomes the receptacle of the universe’s memories and potential, while also bearing witness to social, historical and political events. It is interpreted as a symbol of our collective link with the nurturing essence of the Dreaming Earth. Thus, “Dineo Seshee Raisibe Bopape: (ka) pheko ye – the dream to come” presents itself as a natural extension of this element, so closely is its composition linked to it. Through the use of natural materials and audiovisual media, the South African artist reveals hitherto unexplored, marginalized narratives.
Throughout each space of the exhibition, Dineo Seshee Bopape guides visitors on an introspective journey, inviting them to rediscover or restore what has been lost, displaced or forgotten. To accentuate this immersive experience, a subtle dream-activating ambient fragrance perfumes the exhibition space, while a herbal tea is offered to awaken visitors’ senses. Inspired by the world of dreams, the artist collaborated with herbalist Frantsila to create a tea infused with blackcurrant leaves, small-flowered mullein, heather, rosemary, rye malt and hops, offered to visitors to the exhibition.
Fascinated by the characteristic scent of rain in Africa, Dineo Seshee Bopape also developed a room fragrance for the exhibition, designed to induce a dreamlike state in visitors. This scent blends dark, woody notes of tar and high pine with clarifying rosemary, soothing lavender, thyme and dream-enhancing rue, inviting restful sleep and evoking memories and dreams. Transcending the simple visual aspect, all five human senses are called upon to fully immerse the visitor in this journey to the heart of the natural elements presented by the South African artist. Experiences and memories can be shared in the Caring Space on the first floor, where collective dreams are nurtured.
It is through dreams that the artist explores the links between the repressed and fragmented parts of self and life. The journey through the exhibition evokes a visit to a dream temple, mapping a process leading to an antidote. The first part of the exhibition title, (ka) pheko ye, translates into sePedi, Dineo Seshee Bopape’s native language, as “(with) this remedy/process of treatment“. In this way, the exhibition reveals itself as a remedy capable of addressing both physical and immaterial issues.
The second part of the exhibition title, “the dream to come“, evokes the potential of the dream realm, symbolizing “a dream to come“. In the dream state, different realities can intermingle, offering a freer form of knowledge production than in the conscious waking state. Leaps in time and connections between different places can then manifest themselves, reflecting the links present in myth and nature.
Dineo Seshee Bopape explores constellations of collective memories, situating the self within this complexity. This process highlights our relationship with the innumerable small events that coexist simultaneously in the universe, contributing to our development as individuals and as a society. The self is compared to a river in constant motion, influenced by and influencing the surrounding landscape, with no defined end point.
The artist’s work is inspired by the indigenous African architectural forms of the courtyard /di Kgoro. These spaces, called “lapa” in the SeTswana language, serve as intermediary places that link the interior and exterior, traditionally dedicated to community gatherings or various activities. They represent spaces for different practices, including contemplation and rest, while at the same time being “whole zones” that transcend the material world, where time follows a different rhythm and new worlds can emerge.
Dineo Seshee Raisibe Bopape
2023
Colored LED lighting
3 + 2ap
Variable size
These architectural forms act as anchor points for individuals and the community, also evoking forms of the feminine. For Dineo Seshee Bopape, floral motifs embody the “feminine/feminine principle” across different eras. These motifs, inspired by the stories of her biological and collective grandmothers, reflect these women’s experiences as actors in various historical periods. Her grandmother’s name, Raisibe, is honored in the exhibition as a testimony to her predecessor.
In her work “(Ka) pheko ye… / (earth to dreamy stick soup)“, Dineo Seshee Bopape creates a cinematic experience by projecting a film onto a stone filled with water and herbs, evoking indigenous healing practices. This installation offers an immersive sensory experience blending light, image and natural elements. Similarly, the “diNaledi” installation features a daylight projector casting the shadow of a star anise on the wall, symbolizing the interaction between the microcosm and the cosmos.
Through these creations, Dineo Seshe Bopape invites viewers to plunge into a playful universe of exploring possibilities, inciting them to immerse themselves in a realm of reverie and imagination. A recurring motif in his work is the pine tree, symbolized by pine cones stretching from the ground to the sky. These elements are interpreted in various cultures as symbols of the pineal gland, often associated with the “third eye” due to its historical and spiritual connotations.
Immerse yourself in the world of “Dineo Seshee Raisibe Bopape: (ka) pheko ye – the dream to come“, where art and nature meet in a spellbinding dance between reality and reverie. Through sensory installations and imaginative creations, the artist invites us to explore the mysteries of the soul and embrace the magic of natural elements. From projections of light to enchanting fragrances, each work transports us on a dreamlike journey, stimulating our senses and awakening our imagination. In the company of the works of this visionary artist, explore a world where the boundary between reality and imagination blurs, offering dreamers an unforgettable sensory escape.
