Embodied encounters with AntheA Delmotte’s performance of Return to Chaos

Corporeality / Sensoriality / Materiality: Body-centered interpretations of South African art

Abstract

The theme of embodied engagement with art is explored in relation to the work Return to Chaos, which was created by South African visual artist AntheA Delmotte in 2017. Following a brief introduction to the artist and her works, my own embodied, sensual encounters with Return to Chaos are investigated in order to establish the usefulness, or not, of this way of looking. Delmotte’s oeuvre shows that she intertwines painting styles of carefully planned studio based realism with deep trance-state public performance paintings that usually result in relatively unplanned abstract artworks. The latter painting performances are often conducted to the accompaniment of live music. Sound, and the presence of co-performing musicians, play an important role for Delmotte while delving into her subconscious to find colour and imagery that best expresses her emotions at any particular moment while deep trance-state painting. This article goes on to explore the possibility that Delmotte’s incremental creation of artworks such as Return to Chaos give insight into colour synaesthesia and cymatic effects in action, and that this artwork shows visible manifestation of deep trance-state feelings embodied by her in response to the music at that particular moment in time. Finally, it is suggested that enrichment offered by analysis of artworks arising from full bodied encounters be extended to include investigations into embodied acts performed by artists as they explore and express their ideas.