Africa: Portraits of Power

“Zebra Children” by Veronika Hart

Twelve oil paintings by Veronika Hart are on exhibit at the YMI Cultural Center through May 31, 2008.

Meticulously capturing people, animals, and landscape on canvas, Hart delivers accurate figurative expressions of exotic proportions. The show is Hart’s first solo exhibition in the Asheville.

Born in Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Hart grew up painting her exotic surroundings in the representational style of classical European masters before moving to Germany to finish her education. She immigrated to the United States in 1975 and now lives in Hendersonville. Since 2004, following an emotional return to Tanzania, Hart has focused her attention on oil paintings, relying heavily on her child memory of Africa.

Hart explains,
“Composition is the cornerstone of my work. I spend time contemplating
diagonals, movement, and light before I begin. As the painting
progresses, I concern myself with figurative accuracy and expression,
initially keeping my palette in a low color key, committing myself to
detail and highlights only when I feel satisfied with proportion and
general appearance. Although I study and absorb photographic material
into my mind’s eye, my work is created almost entirely from memory and
my imagination. Melding people, animals, and landscapes, I aim to
capture the strength, spirit, and political complexities of Africa as I
see it.”

“Children” by Veronika Hart

The YMI Cultural Center, located at 39 South Market Street in downtown
Asheville, has honored and celebrated Western North Carolina’s diverse
cultural heritage and history for more than a century. Africa:
Portraits of Power is co-sponsored by Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa
and Buncombe County.

For tickets, group tours, and other information on this and other
exhibits, call (828) 252-4614 or visit the YMI web site at
www.ymicc.org. Africa: Portraits of Power will remain on exhibit
through May 31, 2008. Gallery Hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10:00 a.m.-5:00
p.m. Weekend hours by appointment only.