AbstRacT – Synchrony Revealed
Timed Online Auction, 4 - 23 July 2025
AbstRacT – Synchrony Revealed
About the SessionIn 2024, the Rupert Museum presented AbstRacT – The Hidden Synchrony, an exhibition inspired by Oscar Forel’s Synchromies series - close-up photographs of tree bark that transformed the familiar into bold abstraction. These works were paired with South African modernist paintings from the museum’s collection, creating surprising visual harmonies and fresh interpretations.
Building on this concept, AbstRacT – Synchrony Revealed is the result of the museum’s third Open Call, which received over 300 submissions. From these, 41 artists were selected to showcase their work in a group exhibition - now part of an exclusive online auction in collaboration with Strauss & Co.
The auction offers collectors a chance to discover new voices engaging with themes of ecology, memory, materiality, and abstraction. Each work reveals a dynamic interplay between natural form and artistic expression - where chance, structure, and symbolism collide.
During the period of the online auction the exhibition is accessible to be viewed at the Jan Rupert Art Centre, 41 Middle street, Graaff-Reinet.
Collection of the artworks will be available once the exhibition closes on 16 November 2025.
Please contact Eliz-Marie Schoonbee to arrange collection/delivery
tel: 021 888 3261
email: eliz-marie@rupertmuseum.org
About this Item
Notes
This artwork invites viewers to engage with the complexity of nature, showcasing its inherent beauty through a contemporary lens that emphasises both harmony and contrast. By blending mosaic techniques with a modern sensibility, this work offers a fresh perspective on the timeless connection between art and the natural environment.
The abstract texture of the bark and the generally abstract nature of this piece contrast with the structured cells of the leaves and the meticulous placement of the tiles. This juxtaposition suggests that what initially appears chaotic and abstract often harbours a deeper underlying structure and organisation. We see the contrast: the coexistence of chaos and structure, the interplay of textures representing fragility and strength, and the comparison between the enduring life of a tree and the fleeting existence of its leaves.
Silver tiles interlink the two elements, seamlessly weaving through the entire composition to create a sense of unity. The reflective surface of the silver tiles enhances this connection, capturing light and drawing attention to the intricate balance between these elements while emphasising the singular, magnificent form of the tree as a representation of nature’s interconnected beauty.