Kelly Clohessy

Proposal:

CRASH – the collective noun for Rhino, as in A Crash of Rhino.

The concept for CRASH was borne out of my observation of the current rhino crisis within South Africa.This series of work is split into 4 parts.
Part I compares the characteristics of the White and the Black Rhino.
Part II depicts the rising annual statistics of rhino poached from 2008 to 2015
Part III shows the monthly statistics of Rhino poached in 2013
Part IV consists of extra-large modified representations of the old South African Ten Rand note. The significance of money in the poaching problem is self-explanatory.

My recording of these stats was done using a simple colour wash and ink medium, which is reminiscent of the illustration in a children’s book. It is delicate and understated. The intention is to set up a tension between the representation and harsh reality. It also expresses the obvious vulnerability of the animals. Some viewers have associated the technique and ‘banner’ format as having an Oriental significance mainly because the tiny rhinos on the narrow paper strips resemble, from a distance, a scroll with script. This is largely unintentional.

Biography:

Kelly Clohessy was born and lives in Cape Town. Her experience lies mainly in design and illustration, and her preferred medium is technical pen and watercolour wash. She is a member of and exhibits with The Heap – a local Artist’s Collaborative based in Cape Town.

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