Whatiftheworld / gallery

solo exhibition

21 February - 12 March, 2011

Opening: Monday 21 February 18h00 - 21h00

Whatiftheworld is pleased to present a new solo presentation by Richard Hart titled Lingua Nero. Exploring new territory both materially and conceptually, Lingua Nero is a continuation of Hart’s investigation into the complex relationship of semiotics, signs, symbols and language.

‘Richard Hart’s career as a graphic designer has been a twenty-year love affair with letterforms, words, text and language. Lingua Nero takes this relationship into a gallery context and allows Hart to unhitch his craft from the imperatives of graphic design. Freed from the need to communicate to a mass audience, Hart’s work engages intimately, using materials and techniques far removed from the traditional media associated with graphic design.’ (Artthrob)

In Lingua Nero Richard Hart engages in a three dimensional word play that affects and expands meaning in a playfully critical dialogue. Using a combination of sculpture, collage, assemblage and installation, familiar objects are recontextualised and married with words or phrases that suggest but don’t prescribe meaning. Through his transformation of the quotidian, Hart’s sculptural and visually seductive text pieces challenge the literal and invite the viewer to engage in multiple interpretations.

Lingua Nero loosely translated as ‘Strong Language’ and ‘Black Language’ offers the viewer both in terms of hue and humor. The exhibition is a refining and focusing of the approach to text and language based art-making pioneered in his 2010 show at the KZNSA titled Lingua Franca. Richard Hart is also a featured speaker at this year’s DESIGN INDABA Conference. The exhibition runs until the 12th of March 2011.