Maine explores recovery, change in solo exhibition
Goitsemodimo Kaelo | Friday July 10, 2026 11:08
Holding Shapes features a series of collage compositions constructed from acrylic-painted paper that has been cut apart and carefully reassembled. Through this process, Maine transforms fragments into new visual forms, using abstraction to reflect on experiences of addiction, recovery and the rebuilding of identity.
The works draw inspiration from The Very Hungry Caterpillar by children's author Eric Carle, a story widely associated with growth, change and transformation. While the source material evokes childhood memories, Maine reinterprets these ideas through a deeply personal lens, creating layered compositions where colour, texture and shape become vehicles for emotional reflection.
At the centre of the exhibition is collage as both method and metaphor. The physical act of cutting represents disruption, while the careful reassembly of fragments suggests repair and renewal. Throughout the series, recurring forms emerge from broken surfaces, symbolising aspects of identity that endure despite periods of uncertainty, loss and change.
The title, Holding Shapes, reflects the challenge of holding onto fragments while rebuilding oneself. Rather than imagining transformation as becoming someone entirely different, the exhibition considers how people reconstruct their lives from what remains, discovering meaning through resilience and continuity.
As the debut presentation of the series, the exhibition offers audiences an opportunity to experience Maine's latest artistic direction. Through vibrant colours, intuitive compositions and layered surfaces, the works invite viewers to contemplate their own experiences of growth, healing and self-discovery.
Born in Gaborone in 1986, Maine is a visual artist living and working in the city. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (Photography) from the Michaelis School of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town. His work has been exhibited extensively, including participation in the FNB Art Joburg Art Fair in 2022.
Working primarily in abstract painting and collage, Maine's practice examines healing, transformation and the complexities of human experience. Through abstraction, he creates space for multiple interpretations, encouraging audiences to reflect on emotional and psychological landscapes while engaging with the enduring possibilities of reconstruction and renewal.