Láura Viruly's MFA Exhibition Explores Copying and Fantasy at University of Cape Town

Láura Viruly presented her MFA final exhibition titled 'The Hard and the Faithful' at Michaelis Galleries, University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa from December 1-2, 2025. The exhibition investigates how fantasy is constructed through acts of replication, drawing inspiration from South African sites of spectacle like casinos, carnivals, and roadside attractions. Viruly creates sculptures by forging aluminum over concrete garden ornaments, producing hollow metal replicas that simultaneously preserve and destroy their sources. The works, including installations like 'The Cast Room' and individual pieces such as 'Jesus on donkey legs,' examine the relationship between repetition, meaning, and belief in cultural imagery.