Pentheus (Bacchus of Buitenkant Series)

Colijn Strydom 'Bacchae of Buitenkant Series'

'The Bacchae of Buitenkant' alludes to Euripides’ classic play, 'The Bacchae', which tells the tale of Dionysus, the god of pleasure, wine, ecstasy and fertility, who takes revenge on Thebes and its ruler, Pentheus. The Bacchae were Dionysus’ followers.

The play is a backdrop against which I explore where and who I am. It addresses gender roles and gender fluidity, which brings an additional layer of autobiography to the work.

Themes of fragmentation and fluidity are reflected in a combination of image, text, tactility and performance, and a mix of media that includes drawing, painting and photography.

The photographs arose from a desire to physically situate myself within the drawings and speak directly to my experience. The props featured in the photos are quite humble, and either made of cardboard or sewn by hand.

I make work to discover things, striving to be sincere and self-aware, and often turning to humour. These lighter moments are juxtaposed with contrasting moods and images to produce a dense and complex viewing experience.