‘Ravelle

Pillay:

The

Weight

of

a

Nail’

Highlighted

in

The

Art

Momentum

‘Ravelle Pillay: The Weight of a Nail’ explores the complex intersections of history, memory and colonial legacies. Through large-scale paintings inspired by oral histories—particularly those shared by her mother—Pillay reflects on the traumatic effects of apartheid-era dispossession and colonialism, particularly within her own family’s history. Central to her practice is the notion that memory, often suppressed by history, can be a powerful tool for reclaiming lost narratives.

By reinterpreting archival materials and photographs, Pillay challenges sanitized versions of history, offering a more fragmented and layered perspective on oppression. Her works, often depicting nature as a silent witness to violence, invite viewers to engage deeply with the painful and unresolved aspects of the past. This exhibition goes beyond mere historical inquiry, delving into personal excavation and collective remembrance, where history is not just told but reimagined. Through intentional instability and opacity, Pillay creates a space for multiplicity and reflection, asking viewers to sit with the weight of unresolved histories and lingering traumas.