{"title":"BUILDING DRAWING PRACTICE - AARON PHILANDER","description":"\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003eLemkus Gallery is excited to present \u003ci\u003eBuilding Drawing Practice\u003c\/i\u003e, a post-residency exhibition by Aaron Philander. Philander (b. 2002) is a Cape Town based artist working across sculpture, drawing, and painting. His works trouble the tension of racial inhabitation in the aftermath of apartheid and offer a unique generational perspective on the ways oppressive structures can be traced psychologically and materially.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\"\u003eIn\u003ci\u003e Building Drawing Practice\u003c\/i\u003e, Philander has dedicated himself to exploring his grandfather’s previous work as a skilled labourer, indexed by a training manual for bricklaying found from his time working as an instructor at the College of Cape Town in the latter stages of his career. Using the manual as a jumping-off point to consider the relationship between landscapes and the hands that built them, Philander translates diagrams from sectional view into real and imagined spaces, Philander adopts relief carving as a form of drawing and wood stain as painterly pigment. The project takes liberty to transition from personal experience, reading the document as a repository of memories of a person’s singular inhabitation of the world (with his distinct conditions and ways of being), to the broader context of labour as \u003ci\u003etime\u003c\/i\u003e. This captures what Karl Marx deems “socially necessary labour time\u003ca style=\"mso-footnote-id: ftn1;\" href=\"#_ftn1\" name=\"_ftnref1\" title=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MsoFootnoteReference\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e[1]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e”, the prerequisite amount of time required to produce a commodity under normal conditions. How long does it take to complete a construction project? How long does it take to produce an artwork? Considered in this way, Philander’s reference to his grandfather becomes abstracted from the object as a code to a mutual experience of hours dedicated to craft, and therein the distinctions between technical drawing practice, bricklaying, carpentry, and artistic practice collapse and coalesce.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\"\u003ePhilander’s previous work took seriously the question of colouredness in relation to his personal experience as an artist emerging in the aftermath of racial segregation. His former exhibitions were dedications to cultural heritage vis-à-vis family connections, with works that sparked an intergenerational conversation between him and his grandparents— figures that maintained a distinct sense of identity that he felt distanced from. These earlier experiments with timber and objects found from their material archive were ways grasping at their intangible essence, capturing ideas about selfhood that go unspoken in the cultural canon. More recently, Philander made the decision to deepen the conceptual plane of his practice by looking at the broader historical context that produces the generational rift that previously preoccupied him. In so doing, Philander retains the familial significance of his previous work while freeing himself from provincial particularity. This broadness comes with a newfound ability to gesture at collective histories of social control, apartheid spatial planning, and structures of violence that resist dismantlement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\"\u003eThinking around labour was important in this regard, not only in accordance with his grandfather’s life, but constituent layers of experience surrounding that. Spatial planning under apartheid was specifically designed maintain a particular exchange of labour, and through labour a strained relationship to time. This is evident in the construction of train lines, the development of buffer zones, workers hostels— all ways of apprehending time. These facets become the subject of sketches and paintings, sometimes as direct references and in other instances as abstract material that explodes the constructed reality of spatial planning. Philander traces his grandfather’s commute from Steenberg to Retreat station, to Simon’s Town, where he helped to expand the Naval Base following its formal transfer to South Africa\u003ca style=\"mso-footnote-id: ftn2;\" href=\"#_ftn2\" name=\"_ftnref2\" title=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MsoFootnoteReference\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e[2]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e. The use of painter’s tape implies this directional flow and sense of order, designating space in landscape compositions while interrupting softer shades of brown. Lines extend to the space itself as a way of marking different kinds of work, in the literal sense (gardening vs construction) and as a way of defining different territories of artistic articulation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\"\u003eReturning to Philander’s use of the instruction manual as a guiding factor for the project, the excerpt below captures quite poignantly his alternate analysis of the text as a speculative framework:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-left: 36.0pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;\"\u003eThroughout your entire career, you will be called on to interpret drawings and other graphical means of communication. A very efficient form of graphic communication has been developed, and it has become known as “Drawing”. If you are to achieve any measure of success it is imperative that you master this task.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;\"\u003eDrawing is indeed a necessary means of interpretation. Whether it applied as a language of marks with preconceived meanings, or as an entirely new vocabulary, it provides an important basis for making sense of things. The question of mastery notwithstanding, this is precisely what Philander set himself to achieve; to find new ways to assert and assess meaning. His current interest in systems aesthetics\u003ca style=\"mso-footnote-id: ftn3;\" href=\"#_ftn3\" name=\"_ftnref3\" title=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MsoFootnoteReference\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e[3]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e opens new trajectories, while holding his conceptual foundations closely in hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"mso-element: footnote-list;\"\u003e\n\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cbr clear=\"all\"\u003e\u003chr align=\"left\" size=\"1\" width=\"33%\"\u003e\n\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"mso-element: footnote;\" id=\"ftn1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoFootnoteText\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"mso-footnote-id: ftn1;\" href=\"#_ftnref1\" name=\"_ftn1\" title=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MsoFootnoteReference\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e[1]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e Socially necessary labour time (SNLT) refers to the average time needed to produce a commodity under typical production conditions, using the technology, skill level, and labour intensity that are standard within a given society.\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"mso-element: footnote;\" id=\"ftn2\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoFootnoteText\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"mso-footnote-id: ftn2;\" href=\"#_ftnref2\" name=\"_ftn2\" title=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MsoFootnoteReference\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e[2]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e In 1957 jurisdiction and ownership of Simon’s Town Naval Base were formally transferred from the British Royal Navy to the South African Navy. In the 1970s the harbour was extended by reclaiming a large area of land from a tidal basin. \u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"mso-element: footnote;\" id=\"ftn3\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoFootnoteText\"\u003e\u003ca style=\"mso-footnote-id: ftn3;\" href=\"#_ftnref3\" name=\"_ftn3\" title=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"MsoFootnoteReference\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"mso-special-character: footnote;\"\u003e\u003c!-- [if !supportFootnotes]--\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: 'Calibri',sans-serif; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;\"\u003e[3]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c!--[endif]--\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e Systems aesthetics is a critical theory of art coined by Jack Burnham in his 1968 Artforum essay, proposing a shift from static, object-based art (like sculpture) to dynamic systems. It views artworks as complex, interactive networks of energy, information, and people, often incorporating computers, ecology, and social processes.\u003cspan lang=\"EN-US\" style=\"mso-ansi-language: EN-US;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"border-control-2026","title":"Border control, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain, painter’s tape. 60 x 66 5 cm. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776704868487,"sku":null,"price":10200.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/5__edited_04bf7560-1865-442b-a318-2a19f482a8d8.png?v=1780556869"},{"product_id":"aerial-surveys-2026","title":"Aerial surveys, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, found timber, wood stain. 39.5 x 49.5 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776709259399,"sku":null,"price":7800.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/9_73078cc4-048f-4b9c-868c-c0448fd839e7.png?v=1780555156"},{"product_id":"zoning-exercise-2026","title":"Zoning exercise, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, found timber, wood stain. 39.5 x 63 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776721612935,"sku":null,"price":8100.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/10_7d212bd8-11c3-4f9a-a7e3-aad723c56c0a.png?v=1780555129"},{"product_id":"labour-marks-2026","title":"Labour marks, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain. 31 x 27 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776793374855,"sku":null,"price":6200.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/11_a3bc98bf-7eb3-4165-9474-8b26b2964990.png?v=1780555268"},{"product_id":"answer-sheet-2026","title":"Answer sheet, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain. 31 x 23 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776814411911,"sku":null,"price":4000.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/4_edited.png?v=1780555102"},{"product_id":"building-terms-2026","title":"Building terms, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain, ink, painter’s tape. 31 x 23 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776832073863,"sku":null,"price":4000.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/3__edited.png?v=1780555234"},{"product_id":"identification-and-interpretation","title":"Identification and interpretation","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain, ink. 31 x 23 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776852029575,"sku":null,"price":4000.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/44__edited.png?v=1780572119"},{"product_id":"basic-knowledge-2026","title":"Basic knowledge, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain, ink. 31 x 23 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776925560967,"sku":null,"price":4000.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/2_edited.png?v=1780555181"},{"product_id":"buffer-zones-2026","title":"Buffer zones, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, found timber, wood stain, painter’s tape. 90 x 181.5 x 5cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776964391047,"sku":null,"price":18200.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/43__edited.png?v=1780574497"},{"product_id":"building-bricks-2026","title":"Building bricks, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, found timber, found objects. Sizes variable. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44776989196423,"sku":null,"price":1000.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/12__edited.png?v=1780555502"},{"product_id":"landscape-study-2026","title":"Landscape study, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain, painter’s tape. 30 x 50.5 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777018949767,"sku":null,"price":7400.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/1__edited.png?v=1780557318"},{"product_id":"practice-makes-perfect-2026","title":"Practice makes perfect, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003eFound wood, pine, metal spring, graphite pencil. 95 x 30 x 22 cm. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777056829575,"sku":null,"price":9500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/6__edited.png?v=1780557294"},{"product_id":"secret-recipe-2026","title":"Secret recipe, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003eFound wood, pine, metal spring, wooden dowel, draft paper, painter’s tape. 43 x 48.5 x 4.5 cm. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777090678919,"sku":null,"price":8200.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/7_69694c34-eda3-4ab9-bf09-81ec0d32c171.png?v=1780557065"},{"product_id":"clear-boundaries-2026","title":"Clear boundaries, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, meranti, found timber. 27.5 x 38 x 5 cm. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777096118407,"sku":null,"price":7800.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/18_e83fd751-0d70-4ad3-a645-c795772cb008.png?v=1780556896"},{"product_id":"too-organic-2026","title":"Too organic, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003eFound timber, pine. 38 x 190 x 11.5 cm. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777097887879,"sku":null,"price":6200.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/20_c3789f6b-f979-4148-a052-64b3804cd2ae.png?v=1780557270"},{"product_id":"khwesini-hostel-2026","title":"Khwesini Hostel, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain. 10 x 12.5 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777103818887,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/15_554adbde-a71c-46e9-846b-eab8e3f22816.png?v=1780557242"},{"product_id":"retreat-station-2026","title":"Retreat station II, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, meranti, wood stain. 25 x 26.5 x 5 cm. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777107128455,"sku":null,"price":3800.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/13_3e80087a-889a-4a2d-94d9-cd1946b978b5.png?v=1780557197"},{"product_id":"retreat-station-2027","title":"Retreat station, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain. 13 x 14.5 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777107652743,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/14_17208655-7e66-428f-960e-18f3b5030b13.png?v=1780557163"},{"product_id":"simons-town-naval-base-2026","title":"Simon's Town Naval Base, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003ePine, wood stain. 13 x 13.5 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777107849351,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/17_1b1b77dc-fea2-4991-8b57-2f6aebcceeb8.png?v=1780557120"},{"product_id":"train-station-2026","title":"Train station, 2026","description":"\u003cp\u003eOak, ash, wood stain. 18.5 x 18.5 x 5 cm. Framed. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Aaron Philander","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44777109291143,"sku":null,"price":2600.0,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/files\/16_43da50ea-1e07-471e-8f67-906ca37bd4f9.png?v=1780557097"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0594\/1569\/1399\/collections\/banner_2_aaron_2.png?v=1780580054","url":"https:\/\/lemkusgallery.com\/collections\/building-drawing-practice-aaron-philander.oembed","provider":"Lemkus Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}