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Acclaimed SA Artist Lea Colombo Unveils 'Seeing Beyond' Exhibition in Cape Town

A glimpse into Lea Colombo’s latest solo exhibition and first exhibition in South Africa

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By Edwain Steenkamp  | February 19, 2024 | Art

Casa Colombo announces ‘Seeing Beyond’, Lea Colombo’s latest solo exhibition and first exhibition in South Africa in 2024. The exhibition follows Colombo’s ever-evolving journey as she finds new ways of expressing her unique visual language through an exploration of colour, light, form, and energy. Seeing Beyond delves into the metaphysics of being, inviting viewers to contemplate an inner knowing and the power of the mind, the soul, and the current state of our existence. Colombo dives into the exploration of sacred bio geometry, allowing us to see form and matter through shapes as she explores the permanent fixture of energy, encouraging us to let ideas and knowledge flow through our souls, minds, and bodies.

Image: Courtesy of Lea Colombo

The works invite us to consider the interrelation between the structures of our bodies, the internal composition of matter, and the forms and matter present in the external world. The spaces that Colombo creates are reflective and interactive as she approaches colour and form in bold and exciting ways.

Image: Courtesy of Lea Colombo
Image: Courtesy of Lea Colombo

Seeing Beyond urges us to feel a sense of freedom, to tap into an openness that allows us to look inwards and find internal liberation that might lead us to see anew and unveil the mysteries that are all around us. Colombo’s most recent works continue to delve into the interconnectedness of the body, geometry and light resulting in a dynamic visual language that evokes new ways of seeing the world and ourselves. Her interest in sacred geometry and form allows her to look beyond visual attributes towards the symbolic, philosophical, and even spiritual meaning of the matter with which she works, as seen in her big stone sculpture that sways within a pyramid structure. This sculpture points to an elevated sense of awareness and directs our thoughts to the essence of shapes as the dispersion of light and energy continuously change. Colombo's work transcends conventional boundaries, unravelling the unseen to its simplest form as she harnesses the metaphysical aspects of shapes in her work, breaking them down and turning them into something new to convey deeper truths.

In this exhibition, Colombo prompts us to question our perception of form and to trust our instincts. The artworks challenge viewers to immerse themselves in the constant flow of connection that always runs through and around us. Colombo’s work continues to evolve while maintaining an interest in the animation and dance between light and dark, seen throughout her hands-on photographic practice as well as her more recent sculptural works.

Image: Courtesy of Lea Colombo

Colombo’s work provides a glimpse into her artistic philosophy. It poses thought-provoking questions about the essence of light, its influence on our presence, and the inherent instinct that we often neglect. The exhibition challenges us to imagine a world saturated with colour, movement, and vibration—a world where we are attuned to the life force that surrounds and defines us.

SEEING BEYOND is on show now in Cape Town until 25th February (10am - 6pm daily), from then onwards by appointment only.

Portrait of the artist, Lea Colombo