'The Hilarity of Reality'

Working in a number of different mediums such as drawing, print, painting, sculpture, animation and installation, Neill continues to draw inspiration from the media, society and politics creating an ironic, humorous and often cynical interpretation of contemporary Africa. Through somewhat comical and tragic interpretations of the difficulties and paradoxes embedded in global and more specifically, South African society, the artist attempts to create an uncomfortable space in which the observers are caught between being saddened and amused in this twisted world of contemporary morality.

'With this body of work, I intend to explore the dysfunctional paradigms which characterise post-modern African and more specifically, South African society, looking at what we prioritise in this world of neoliberal capitalism and instant gratification. We are bombarded with ideas of permanent leisure, pleasure, quick fixes and get rich quick schemes. There is a hollow rhetoric and moral paralysis at play in contemporary society which extends to the rulers of nations as well as the so-called leaders in various facets of society in whose hands so much hope and trust is placed. Through the mediums of sculpture, screen printing and painting, I intend to expose this dark undercurrent through ironic, humorous and cynical interpretations which I feel makes the tragedy a little more palatable. As artist and writer David Robbins said, "Comedy is our flexible strategy for scraping from our lives the thin film of shit produced by human society'.

30 May - 22 June