Windhoek — Young artist, Isabel Katjavivi, has received good reviews on her first solo exhibition, which consists of a number of works paying homage to the nude form.

The exhibition, titled 'Head to Toe', explores primarily how different colours work with one another and display the beauty of the female form.

Artist, Nicky Marais, when opening the exhibition at Studio 77 last week said she considered the works to be very successful artworks.

Marais said Katjavivi's contemplative choices about the size of her works, composition, shapes, colours and tones constituted an artistic act.

Marais added that Katjavivi 's works conformed to the 50's idea when abstract art was invented and experts insisted that each painting was not just a painting, but the representation of an idea about painting, and also that the fundamental artistic act was contained in the act of contemplative choice.

According to Marais, Katjavivi had chosen to work in what could be considered one of the most challenging genres.

"Abstract painting lays bare the structure of the work. The elements are naked, there are no representational details to seduce the viewer, no sentimentality is allowed and no secrets are kept. The elements common to all paintings, such as form, space and colour, are presented to the viewer as purely as possible. In a view, abstract art can be seen as a step towards participatory art where the viewer's ideas of the works become inextricably linked with the work they are observing," Marais explained.

Katjavivi describes herself as "an artistic Namibian soul" studying International Relations abroad. This year the 21-year-old artist enrolled for formal art studies at the University of Namibia.

"Art has always been a passion of mine," she told Art Life.

"Ideas rush into my head faster than I can put them down. Everyday objects are put into their frames. I want the chance to cut the world up and find its beauty, to dig deep into an object and pull out its glow. An eternal spark sets off when I can paint and photograph. I put all I am into my art, and would love to find the ability to live art. I want to continue with my painting and my photography and travel with these, getting inspired by the wonders of our world," says the very enthusiastic Katjavivi.

"The works can be challenging to view; the viewer is often beset with trying to find details and shapes that they understand and can relate to, naturalistic images that will satisfy their curiosity and tell a story, because we all love stories. In abstract art what you see is what you get, and what wonderful freedom is that?" Marais concluded.