Alexandra Karamallis is a Brooklyn-based designer and artist. Over the last decade, she has made annual trips to the Western Cape to visit her sister and has been captivated by the beauty of the land, vegetation, people and rich culture. Her work has always aimed to draw attention to beauty in diversity through depictions of gardens, the juxtaposition of nature with architecture and depictions of the land and sky, all while inspiring joy in the viewer.

In early March, shortly before the COVID-19 crisis exploded worldwide, Karamallis arrived in Cape Town to meet her new-born niece and have her second solo exhibition at Chandler House. However, within days of her arrival, the global situation changed drastically, borders were sealed and she now finds herself in Cape Town indefinitely. Making the most out of a rather strange situation, Karamallis has used this as a unique opportunity to make art every day in one of the places that inspires her the most - Cape Town.

'An Ode to The Cape' is a body of work that is very much about her love for South Africa, a place that has come to feel like a second home for her and has been a source of solace and creative rejuvenation throughout her years of traveling here. These works seek the beauty in our landscapes both urban and further afield and captures her experience in this moment in time, as well as those which she longs for beyond it. Something I think we can all understand and empathise with.

Curator's Note

As a curator of exhibitions, I honestly couldn't have wished for a more well-timed show. Her soft, effortless and joyous landscape works capture the very spirit which we miss the most locked-down in our urban homes. Compounding to the challenges of the lockdown, we are also moving into shorter days and cooler weather and Karamallis' work is a gentle reminder that Summer will return, we will spend time with distant loved ones again and we will once again be able to immerse ourselves in our beloved nature.

*As Alexandra will be in Cape Town for the foreseeable future, she will be taking on private commissions to supplement her income. Should you be interested in commissioning a work by the artist of your garden, a favourite view - or something in between, please contact Chandler House directly so we can start the conversation.

Technical notes about the exhibition

All of the work in the show is unframed due to the current COVID-19 situation. Should you like to have your work framed, we would happy to organise framing and pass on any trade discount we receive from our framer. We are also able organise the shipping of your unframed/framed work to you if you are living far away. As for Capetonians, works can be collected as soon as we have the go-ahead to re-open our Church Street doors. Thanking you in advance for being so understanding.

info@chandlerhouse.co.za

@chandlerhousect

@alexandrakaramallis