Strauss & co - 1 December 2018, Cape Town

40 Zeitz MOCAA Benefit Art Auction Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga is well-known for her wall-hanging sculptures, which make use of ubiquitous materials such as Mabati (or sheets of metal), commonly used to upgrade the roofing of one’s home. The use of Mabati also allows one to harvest water. Before Winter (2016) is made from such sheets of metal, complete with steel wire, dry leaves, and handcrafted paper. A line runs through the centre with leaves either side, as if deposited on the banks of a river. The metal sheets surrounding it resemble aerial landscape photographs, marking the passage of time. ‘ Before Winter is symbolic of the preparations we make in life’, says the artist,‘They allow us to flow, effortlessly, from one season to another.’ Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga (b. 1960, Kenya) has exhibited her work at the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, Riga (Latvia: 2018); The Museum of Geometric and MADI Art, Dallas (USA: 2018): 1:54 African Art Fair, London (UK: 2017); and the Museu Afro Brasil, Sao Paulo (Brazil, 2015), amongst others. 18 Naomi Wanjiku Gakunga KENYAN 1960- Before Winter 2016 sheet metal, steel wire, dry leaves and handcrafted paper 112 by 92cm ZAR70 000 - 90 000 £2 800 - 4 000 $3 800 - 5 000 € 3 100 - 4 400 PROVENANCE Donated by the artist. Courtesy of October Gallery, London. Image courtesy of Jonathan Greet