Exhibition: Mythologies of Time: A solo exhibition by Simon Venter
Dates: 13 March – 4 May 2025
Venue: Main Building, Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
Artist Simon Venter is set to debut his highly anticipated solo exhibition, Mythologies of Time, a compelling exploration of the intersections between history, human existence, and technology at Oliewenhuis Art Museum from 13 March – 4 May 2025.
Venter, a self-taught artist, has developed a distinctive visual language over the past nine years, merging Christian iconography with diverse artistic traditions to interrogate themes of identity, spirituality, and modernity. Recognised through prestigious platforms such as Sasol New Signatures 2023 and 2024, the Sanlam Portrait Award 2021, and the Nando’s Creative Exchange 2022, Venter has steadily gained prominence in the contemporary art scene.
Mythologies of Time delves into the ways in which history and technology shape human perception, questioning the narratives we construct around progress and innovation. Through a fusion of AI-generated imagery and meticulous hand-rendered techniques, Venter challenges the role of artificial intelligence in creative production. His work positions AI as a mechanical mirror, capable of mimicking but never truly capturing the depth of human artistic expression.
Central to this body of work is the recurring arch motif, symbolising both a passage and a rupture—representing the tensions between permanence and change, human consciousness and machine processes. Drawing inspiration from memento mori traditions, Venter reflects on the impermanence of life, emphasizing the irreplaceable nature of embodied experience, historical continuity, and existential reflection in artistic practice.
As AI becomes more embedded in creative and cultural discourse, Mythologies of Time critically examines its role in the artistic process. This exhibition is an invitation to reconsider the myths we create around technology – as well as those we create about ourselves – and its place in our evolving world.
The exhibition invites viewers into a thought-provoking dialogue about tradition in an era of rapid technological advancement. By weaving together elements of mythology, art history, and digital intervention, Mythologies of Time stands as a testament to the enduring significance of human creativity in an increasingly digitised landscape.
Artist Biography
Simon Venter (b. 1997) is a self-taught artist whose practice explores the human condition, the interconnectedness of individuals, and the evolving relationship between tradition and technological progress. Over the past nine years, Venter has developed a distinct visual language that merges Christian iconography with diverse art movements, past and present, creating thought-provoking works that engage with themes of identity, spirituality, and modernity.
Currently based in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, Venter maintains a dedicated studio practice in the heart of the city. This urban environment informs his exploration of humanity’s shifting place in a rapidly changing world, particularly in relation to technology’s growing presence in daily life. His work explores the tension between progress and tradition, questioning the role of human agency in an increasingly digitised landscape.
Through a multidisciplinary approach that honours historical influences while embracing contemporary discourse, Venter continues to push boundaries, positioning his practice at the intersection of philosophy, spirituality, and technology.
The exhibition can be viewed until Sunday, 4 May 2025. Oliewenhuis Art Museum is located at 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein and is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays between 09:00 and 16:00. A ramp at the entrance of the main entrance provides access for wheel chairs, while a lift provides access to the Permanent Collection display areas on the 1st floor. R10 parking fee will be charged but entrance to the museum is free.
For more information on Oliewenhuis Art Museum please contact the Museum at 078 968 4300 or oliewen@nasmus.co.za. Stay up to date by following Oliewenhuis Art Museum on Facebook, Instagram and X for all upcoming exhibitions and events.
