Berni Searle

Once Removed (Head) I, II, III. 2008. Archival pigment ink on cotton rag paper . Triptych, individual prints 112 X 95cm. Edition of 5 + 2AP. Photo credit: TONY MEINTJES


BERNI SEARLE is a South African artist. Originally trained as a sculptor, she now utilises large-scale digital photographic prints and combines them with found materials to make her compelling installations.

Using her own body as subject and point of departure, BERNI SEARLE experiments with the surface of her skin, allowing it to be clad in layers of coloured and aromatic spices, leaving her bodily imprint on drifts of spices on the floor, or staining certain areas of her body with various substances, suggesting trauma, or damage.

"Without providing any definite answers, I think my work raises questions about attitudes towards race and gender. I think it operates on different levels and reflects different racial and political experiences - but I don't think my pieces are limited by that. I hope they transcend and go beyond that, and provide a space for illusion and fantasy. They reflect a desire to present myself in various ways to counter the image that has been imposed on me." by Cape Town artist BERNI SEARLE

found via http://www.booooooom.com/