June 11, 2009—July 11, 2009 | Reception Thursday, June 11th, 6-8PM

James Harris Gallery is pleased to present the first U.S. exhibition by South African artist François van Reenen. His sculptures and animations elaborate on the tradition of comic art to convey more complex issues in response to a changing social and cultural landscape of South Africa. The artist’s work is not political commentary but an investigation of memories of growing up in white South Africa. Van Reenen states “I was struck by vague memories of my childhood. I mostly remembered having to be quiet on Sunday afternoons, because my parents were napping. Actually, our whole suburban neighborhood was dead quiet – and white.”

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