Poorvi Bhana
Poorvi Bhana’s explores the ‘limit of phenomenology – of the imaginary and the hidden.’ It invites the viewer to experience a downward transcendence, a retreat from visibility.
This allows the viewer to observe the freedom from dualities of invisibility and visibility, of imperceptions and perception, untruth and truth, matter and spirit, intangible and tangible, and transports us to a realm where there is no distinction between the two, where perfect balance is achieved.
Bhana’s work carries in it the whole of the creative and destructive cycle. Either the process of their conception is also that of their dissolution, or their structure, form and matter contain archaic references that associate them with ruin or formlessness. Her work is such that construction is interrupted at the precise moment when the elements collapse and begin to transform themselves into formlessness.
The tragic theatre of the great deterioration of things runs through all of these works. In one and the same object, the perfection of the form and its deterioration – like a dark secret that might undermine appearances distrusting by reason – reflect the artists interest in the place where interpretation is dissolved.
CV
Poorvi Bhana was born in Gauteng and grew up in Pretoria, where she first studied Art. Inspired by her father, a leading sculptor in the community, she has chosen to pursue a career in the Arts, admitting that her inspiration is drawn from both African and Indian culture. Her work is based largely on clay and mixed media installations. Since graduating with an M Tech (Fine Arts) degree from Tshwane University of Technology, Poorvi has featured prominently in exhibitions, both as exhibitor and curator. Her first solo exhibition (2013) titled Samsara… the journey of the soul, was met with an exceptional response and she quickly gained the respect of her peers as an artist. Bhana was selected as a finalist at the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition (2009) and awarded a merit prize, later winning first prize for her piece Sankhya at the Thami Mnyele Fine Art Competition.