Dreamland 2018

Henry Albertus
Civil Rights and Civil Wrongs: South Africa and US, May 25 – July 29, 2018
Materials
found objects, recycled objects, plants, 6-channel video loops

Henry Albertus was one of the first settlers of Vrygrond or in Afrikaans 8220 free ground 8221 It is now more commonly known as...

Description

Henry Albertus was one of the first settlers of Vrygrond, or in Afrikaans, “free ground.” It is now more commonly known as Capricorn Township. Informal Settlements or Townships are living structures set up on council land. Because they are not designed for housing, water and electricity are not part of the formula.

Traditionally, the houses are one-story units made from corrugated metal, plastics, glass and wood. However, Henry Albertus, who has spent his life reading about and exploring various construction techniques, has spent his life in Vrygrond breaking the traditional township house rules. By recycling rubbish from junkyards and upcycling it into many-leveled sculptural castles, Albertus has built works that echo architecture from all over the world.

Videographer: Corey Sattler

 

Curated by Tavia La Follette

About the Artist

Henry Albertus recycles rubbish from junkyards to create many-leveled sculptural castles echoing architecture from all over the world in Capricorn Township, a shantytown in the Cape Town region.