Rust – provocative nature art!

While painting a gloomy picture of possible disastrous long-term effects of current developments, Imke Rust has produced a powerful body of work yet again. She explores and openly questions social and political controversies in an exhibition titled ‘and I sensed an infinite scream passing through the Namib’.
In this environmental art exhibition, Rust addresses the current debates and happenings concerning the plans for increased mining and industrial activities in the coastal area. In her work she uses a variety of media and techniques to highlight the concerns of the general public and to search for alternative solutions in the environmental conflict. She wants to remind people of their responsibility to look after their land and that they have the power to make changes for a better future
Central to the exhibition are temporary land art works that the artist has installed in the Namib Desert. At the exhibition these installations and interventions will be presented through photographic and video documentation. She evocatively combines natural and man-made materials such as thorns, salt, dung, rubbish bags, barbed wire and videos in her captivating artworks. She even got complete strangers involved in a video on the jetty.
A small part of the exhibition has already been shown in Berlin earlier this year, where it was received with great enthusiasm. However the exhibition has not been received well in Namibia. An arts association cancelled the exhibition because they found it too political and asked Rust to change her exhibition proposal as they said it portrays an impertinent and unscientific public debate against the economically important uranium mining industry. But Rust insisted whe wont let her message be hidden saying the show must been seen anyway, in an unbiased space.
The artist neither preaches nor dictates what the viewer’s stance should be. Instead the exhibition draws one in and compels the observer to engage and consider the complexities of the debate. It is an empowering experience and should definitely not be missed.
The exhibition opens at The Last Resort Wellness Centre in Swakopmund on 09 December at 17:00, and runs until 29 December.