Penny Siopis operates in painting, film, and installation to probe the intertwined realms of history, memory, and identity. Her work often reflects on the complexities of post-apartheid South Africa, exploring the ways personal and collective histories intersect and resonate. A central aspect of Siopis’s practice is her investigation of materiality, particularly the tactile qualities of paint. She manipulates thick, textured layers to evoke sensory and emotional experiences, transforming surfaces into sites where the body, memory, and material converge. Storytelling and myth-making are recurring strategies in her work, blending personal narratives with broader cultural and historical references. Siopis uses these methods to interrogate the legacies of colonialism and apartheid, while also exploring vulnerability, human fragility, and the poetics of everyday life. Through her process-driven and conceptually layered approach, Siopis continues to expand the possibilities of painting and installation, creating works that are simultaneously intimate, critical, and immersive, inviting reflection on the complex interplay between history, memory, and identity. ...
