My presentation on Proximities, the Sessions 2026 final group exhibition at 196 Victoria, Cape Town, 20-27 October 2026.
For a full list of works on exhibition, please see my viewing room here.
Artist statement here.
For a full list of works on exhibition, please see my viewing room here.
Artist statement here.
Sessions for Visual Artists is a programme dedicated to the further development of participating artists’ practice. The programme was founded in 2021 and has since run annually from March to October—consisting of one-on-one consultations, group meetings, outings and critique sessions, workshops and an exhibition. Artists involved in the programme are selected by way of an application process—taking into consideration what the needs of those particular individuals might be, and how they might relate to one another. The programme is facilitated by Dominique Edwards and draws from a pedagogy that has developed and evolved over more than twenty years of working with people from widely different contexts.
@____sessions____ on Instagram
@____sessions____ on Instagram
I was living in Berlin for two months in 2025. On my daily walks and cycles around the city, I started to notice intentionally placed boulders on pavements and in public parks – I guessed they were there to offer a place to rest briefly, for children to play on, and to break up the hard monotony of infrastructure.
They seemed sad to me, these rocks that had been displaced from their natural, wild environments, and been inserted into often desolate built environments. Surrounded by tar, paving, and shipped-in sand in children’s playgrounds, these rocks were lonely and yearned for their original homes. Though I couldn’t return them myself, the desire was strong to remove them from their gritty urban environments, and honour them by noticing and appreciating them.
I would go on little missions to find these rocks, and, if happening upon some at the wrong time of day (in terms of light), I would return another day, often with a sketchbook and a coffee flask too. I took photos of these rocks, printed them out at a copy shop up the road from where I was staying, and started to cut them out of their backgrounds. The result is a pair of collaged books, separating rock from context.
They seemed sad to me, these rocks that had been displaced from their natural, wild environments, and been inserted into often desolate built environments. Surrounded by tar, paving, and shipped-in sand in children’s playgrounds, these rocks were lonely and yearned for their original homes. Though I couldn’t return them myself, the desire was strong to remove them from their gritty urban environments, and honour them by noticing and appreciating them.
I would go on little missions to find these rocks, and, if happening upon some at the wrong time of day (in terms of light), I would return another day, often with a sketchbook and a coffee flask too. I took photos of these rocks, printed them out at a copy shop up the road from where I was staying, and started to cut them out of their backgrounds. The result is a pair of collaged books, separating rock from context.
Lost Rocks, 2025
Ready-made black album books, collaged laser print outs
Two books, 29.7 × 21 cm each
Ready-made black album books, collaged laser print outs
Two books, 29.7 × 21 cm each
Rock drawings included on The Objects, a group exhibition of
sculpture, painting, drawing, photography, film and other enigmatic objects, curated by Sean O’Toole at Under Projects, Cape Town, July 2023.
The exhibition coincides with the launch of Sean’s new chapbook, The Object (2023), designed by myself.
The exhibition coincides with the launch of Sean’s new chapbook, The Object (2023), designed by myself.
All works:
Gouache and pencil on paper, 210 x 297mm
Gouache and pencil on paper, 210 x 297mm
An advent calendar artist book project, presented at A4 Arts Foundation, November 2022. An accompanying text by A4:
“Each year, before Christmas, Gabrielle Guy makes an advent calendar for her younger sister, Tabitha. Because Gabrielle is a bookmaker, these calendars take the form of books. On each page, Gabrielle has hidden something. The pages must be torn (beginning December 1 with the final page broken open on Christmas day) to reveal its surprise. Gabrielle's practice is as precise as it is playful. A devotee of humble things – bricks, corners, stones – and hidden moments, it is difficult to write of her accomplishments because she shies away from ever mentioning them. It is up to this writer to insist on doing so. At the time of writing, Gabrielle is the designer of more than 200 artist books and catalogues, for all of South Africa's most renowned artists. The list includes William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, Jo Ractliffe, Igshaan Adams, Penny Siopis, as well as Phaidon's African Artists, to mention only a few. The number excludes books of her own photographic practice – of 'things to look at' and 'pictures of pictures' – to paraphrase Gabrielle's titles.
A practice in sisterly love and devotion since 2014, this is the first year that these advent calendars are available to be purchased and shared.”
“Each year, before Christmas, Gabrielle Guy makes an advent calendar for her younger sister, Tabitha. Because Gabrielle is a bookmaker, these calendars take the form of books. On each page, Gabrielle has hidden something. The pages must be torn (beginning December 1 with the final page broken open on Christmas day) to reveal its surprise. Gabrielle's practice is as precise as it is playful. A devotee of humble things – bricks, corners, stones – and hidden moments, it is difficult to write of her accomplishments because she shies away from ever mentioning them. It is up to this writer to insist on doing so. At the time of writing, Gabrielle is the designer of more than 200 artist books and catalogues, for all of South Africa's most renowned artists. The list includes William Kentridge, Zanele Muholi, Jo Ractliffe, Igshaan Adams, Penny Siopis, as well as Phaidon's African Artists, to mention only a few. The number excludes books of her own photographic practice – of 'things to look at' and 'pictures of pictures' – to paraphrase Gabrielle's titles.
A practice in sisterly love and devotion since 2014, this is the first year that these advent calendars are available to be purchased and shared.”
View on A4’s website here.
