The Grad Show Exhibition At Michaelis

This week I had a peek at the exhibition of art by the grad students from the University of Cape Town’s Michaelis School of Fine Art. These are some of the works that I find really inspiring, impressive or interesting:

A talk by William Kentridge at Greatmore Studios

William Kentridge will give a talk on his work on 5 August 2011 at Greatmore Studios in Woodstock! The talk is in aid of raising funds for the studios and will be accompanied by an exhibition by various artists in support of the studios.

Tickets for the talk cost R150, for more info and bookings, email info@greatmoreart.org.

Healing and hiding in the Landscape

Healing or Hiding,
Limited edition photographic print - documentation of land art: using leaves and mud on a tree trunk and branches. Location: Deer Park, Table Mountain National Park, Cape Town.
2011

Before:


After:



Me working.

Nature has brought together 4 ladies who love doing land art, each of us with a deep respect and reverence for our natural environment. We've been working in Deer Park, and have created a couple of temporary land art works that (1) do not interfere or damage the area that we work in on a negative way and (2) are washed away, cleaned, blown away or decayed by the natural elements. Here's my fellow land artists:


The inspiring and very creative Di Smith - many of you might know her already as the owner of G2 Art Gallery in Shortmarket Street, Cape Town.


One of Di's creations


The beautiful and dynamic Andreé Bonthuys, a land artists who also makes sculptures from bones, who's had a pivotal role in establishing the Baardskeerdersbos Art Route


The talented Leli Hoch, with her keen eye and ability for colour, simplicity and impact.

All three these women have been, and still are, a blessing and inspiration to me and my creative work. Even with winter upon us, we'll still be doing Land Art when it's not raining, and taking advantage of the change in the landscape that comes with abundant water and cold.



Andreé's photographic work on exhibition at the NWU Botanical Gardens Gallery in Potchefstroom as part of HumanEarth.2:Re(-)presentations.

The site as canvas

I finally physically met Strijdom van der Merwe last night! We've had email contact since I was a student and started to admire, and be inspired by, his work. I was not disappointed - he is as great a man as his extraordinary work, and it was an honor to meet him! Of course, I did not quite behave like an adult, but more like a teenager, as I could not contain my excitement and awe. But all in all, I feel content. Looking forward to see what they're going to do in Plettenberg Bay in May! Don't know what I'm talking about? He is involved with a project called Site_Specific:

Plettenberg Bay
22 – 29 May 2011

Monday 23 – Friday 27 May
Artists create temporary work along designated art route.
Workshops for school and community groups
From 9am-4pm on May 28, 2011, guided tours will lead visitors through the unique open-air art displays on a 3km walk from Plettenberg Bay’s Central Beach, along the Piesang River Valley, and into the Milkwood Trail. Guided tours and transportation will be available to visit local land art and cultural performances in nearby Kwa-Nokuthula and Kranshoek as well as a reforestation initiative in New Horizon. A festive launch event is scheduled at 11am on May 28th at the Timbershed, a historic landmark from Plettenberg Bay’s past as a whaling station.

Sunday 29 May – Land art route open to all

Some of Strijdom's inspiring work:



See more of Strijdom's work on his website: www.strijdom.co.za
To my utter dismay and disappointment, I will not be able to go to Plettenberg Bay during this event, as I'll be in the Vaal Triangle at that time. I do look forward, however, to see the photographs and other documentation!

The landscape

According to the article on Wikipedia:

"Landscape art is a term that covers the depiction of natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees, rivers, and forests, and especially art where the main subject is a wide view, with its elements arranged into a coherent composition. In other works landscape backgrounds for figures can still form an important part of the work. Sky is almost always included in the view, and weather is often an element of the composition. Detailed landscapes as a distinct subject are not found in all artistic traditions, and develop when there is already a sophisticated tradition of representing other subjects."

I've decided to sometimes deviate a bit from only showing my work on my blog. It has to become somewhat boring to you as viewer. I know I would go insane if I look at only my own work everyday! So I'll share some of my favourite works by other artists, which will anyway give you more insight into what inspires my artwork... While on Wikipedia I spotted this work, which immediately caught my attention:


Hasegawa Tōhaku, Pine Trees, one of a pair of folding screens, Japan, 1593.

I have always loved Pierneef's work, especially the way that he depicts trees:



This also reminds me of Cape Town-based artist and illustrator Cedric Hunter's technique - with an incredible way of handling light, rocks, and achieving atmosphere in his work. I'll try and post an image or two of his work soon.

And I've always admired Ian Marley's work. I've had the privilege to have Ian as a lecturer in my first year of studying at the Vaal University of Technology. A super-talented artist, this is one of his charcoal landscapes: