Cassi Namoda Refashions Stained-Glass Art at Turner Contemporary in Margate
In a vibrant melding of colors and cultures, artist Cassi Namoda adorns Turner Contemporary in Margate, UK, with her first UK institutional work. Her captivating, figurative piece, reimagined as a mesmerizing stained-glass window, pulses with energy and symbolism that echo the town's eccentric charm.
As we chat over Zoom during the installation process, Cassi describes Margate as a gateway to a dimension brimming with quirkiness and existential vibes. "It’s like a portal to a dimension that feels very eccentric," she muses, gazing out at the sea and its motley mix of dressed-up seasiders.
The piece, christened What Are You Doing by My Sea?, encapsulates the town's social contrasts and a certain degree of conflict, just like a jazz tune with its peculiar, existential beat. The window's striking visuals present an energetic flock of birds against a yellow sky, with a female protagonist looking out wistfully to the sea. Below, a male figure's face is severed by the composition, evoking a sense of disconnect.
"There's this central disagreement in the work," Cassi explains, "but it's all coming from the heart." It seems the female character has experienced heartbreak, yet the overallpiece combines emotional turmoil with a hint of hope. The original painting features a sunset, but the installation leaves the sky abstract, allowing the ever-changing sun and seascape to interact with the work.
Cassi draws inspiration from various sources, including the emotive seascapes of J.M.W. Turner, the mythologies of her native Mozambique, magical realist fiction, and the 1992 Senegalese film Hyenas. Her work is also influenced by devotional paintings from France and Italy, particularly Henri Matisse's Chapelle du Rosaire.
The artist sees Matisse's chapel as a tranquil sanctuary where one can ponder and reflect. Just like that peaceful space, Cassi provides contemplative moments at Turner Contemporary, filling the gallery with locally sourced pews for visitors to linger in awe.
When night falls, people on the beach can catch a glimpse of the stained-glass window, illuminated against the dark. Cassi enthuses, "The most exciting part is evening viewing when the whole thing is lit up." During the day, the piece softens and blends with the sunlit seascape, while at night, it presents a powerful, independent image to be contemplated.
Cassi Namoda's stained-glass window installation continues at Turner Contemporary until September 2025. If you find yourself captivated by the enchanting allure of Margate, immerse yourself in this exquisite, living work of art that beautifully mirrors its surroundings. To learn more, visit www.turnercontemporary.org.
During our conversation, Cassi compares Margate to an entrance to a dimension that exudes a unique blend of eccentricity and existential vibes, similar to her stained-glass window installation, What Are You Doing by My Sea?. The vibrant piece, influenced by various cultural elements, embodies the town's social contrasts and offers a fusion of emotional turmoil and hope, much like one might experience while traveling through diverse cultural landscapes.
