by Jenani

Presence & Absence

AUD TBC

An atmosphere where appearance is a gesture, disappearance a shadow, and the space between them holds its own quiet truth.

Acquisition Catalogue

It is a work shaped not by form, but by the subtle turning of awareness: where recognition stirs, where light circles, where the unseen begins to approach...

There are moments when being and unbeing touch — when what comes forward and what slips away share the same quiet threshold. Presence & Absence moves within that meeting point. It is not a depiction, but a condition: the slow circling of something that wishes to appear and the gentle retreat of something that has already begun to fade.

The work holds to no single centre. Instead, it offers a pulse of becoming — a gathering of light inside motion, a soft erosion of boundary, a feeling arriving without form.

It is the kind of emergence sensed more in awareness than in sight, where recognition stirs before understanding takes shape. What is present is not fixed; what is absent is not lost.

In its atmosphere, there are echoes of those who understood light as a state of consciousness: the dissolving radiance of Turner, the breathlike horizons of Zao Wou-Ki. Yet the sensibility is Jenani’s alone — an attentiveness to the spaces where experience shifts in ways that cannot be directly named, only felt in the subtle turning of perception.

Presence & Absence invites the viewer into this quiet metaphysical interval — a place where appearance is not certainty, and disappearance is not void. A place where two movements coexist: the coming-forth and the falling-away, each giving the other meaning.

Presence & Absence does not resolve the tension; it honours it, revealing how presence and absence are not opposites, but companions in the rhythm of becoming.

76 × 76 cm · Oil on Canvas · 2025 · Signed verso

Held in the artist’s care

In Your Care

-   Jenani Therone   -

My Philosophy

Art, to me, is both a quiet rebellion and an act of connection. It is the courage to reveal vulnerability and the hope to foster healing—not just for myself, but for others. My work explores resilience, identity, and the beauty in imperfection, amplifying voices often left unheard. Through storytelling and imagery, I aim to create empathy, bridge worlds, and inspire reflection, inviting you to find your own meaning within these shared journeys.

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How I Collaborate

Collaboration is where art becomes transformative—where stories merge, ideas spark, and together, we create something extraordinary. My work blends storytelling and imagery to amplify voices, foster empathy, and inspire community. From conceptual creations and community campaigns to exhibitions and workshops, I welcome partnerships that share a vision for connection, resilience, and hope. Let’s create meaningful impact together.

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To Collaborate