Ravelle

Pillay:

The

Weight

of

History,

Art

Basel’s

Must-See

Shows

in

February

2024

Johannesburg-based artist Ravelle Pillay’s second solo exhibition with the gallery, ‘Ravelle Pillay: The Weight of History,’ is listed as one of Cape Town’s must-see shows by Art Basel in February 2024.

In her new work, Pillay delves into the enduring effects of colonialism, particularly in the Indian Ocean region. Born in Durban, a key city for South Africa’s Indian diaspora, her work references historical photographs, public monuments, Victorian homesteads, and the region’s lush landscapes. Pillay’s distinctive palette and painterly style, reminiscent of Lisa Brice’s work centring on Trinidad, are rooted in a unique Indian Ocean imaginary with its own vivid memories and chromatic hues. A standout piece, Queen and Country (2023) reimagines a historical photo of forgotten Indian troops from the South African War, transforming it into a haunting statement in blue.