FAITH XLVII
FAITH XLVII, Ex Astra
carved and linked wood, 145 x 121 cm
Liberty Du, who is widely recognised as Faith XLVII, is a multi-disciplinary South African artist. Her journey into art began on the streets of South Africa in 1997, as a young graffiti writer taking on the name Faith47 (the number being a reference to her grandmother’s numerological theorem). In 2006, Liberty began on a nomadic journey which has brought her to create works in over 39 countries.
Translating to ‘from the stars,’ Ex Astra is a wooden ensemble comprised of twelve
hand-carved geometric impressions. These blocks show the stains of the printmaking process, serving as the foundational layers forming Faith’s broader woodcut series, reflecting an intuitive visual exploration that aligns with the cyclical nature of the twelve months of the year. Drawing on ritualistic practices, Ex Astra invokes an ancient awareness of the phases that shape human experience. The geometric forms within the work function as talismans, echoing transcendental states, embodying an abstraction that meets at the crossroads of time and space.
Specialists in contemporary art from South Africa. Established in 1913. South African artists are part of the global conversation. We seek to make their voices heard.