About The Artist

There is a dichotomy that is often created in conversations about humanity - between reality and idealism. In a sense, a capture of such a division could lead a person to discover a novel approach to important matters of our time. It is crucial to me that every artwork has such a connection point to both the 'idealised' world and the ‘real’ one. This is the reason behind my evident fascination with the world of children, and how that relates to the very complicated issues of both the conscious and unconscious world of existing and non-existing.

The connection between the work itself and the process thereof is vitally important in order to understand its meaning. The cutting of the wood is done by hand; this affords me a more authentic and honest connection with each piece. In a way, this seems to defy technologically advanced methods, such as laser-cutting, which speeds up the process and goes against the controlled, impersonal accuracy of the digital realm. Every single line that is visible on the side edge of each cut-out figure is proof of the process I call ‘carving’- challenging the traditional meaning of the word. Instead of following the line with the band-saw blade, the cut is made by going towards the line – carving away millimetres of wood at a time. Each piece of wood has been kept in its natural state with no oils, stains or varnishes used on the surface - therefore retaining its identity.

Patterns play a very important role within the conceptualisation of each piece; a specific pattern could represent a visual extension or refer to behavioural patterns found in different circumstances. These pieces are often in direct contrast to the perception that surrounds supremacy, and also carries with it a sense of fragility that is shown in the raw but delicately cut pieces of wood.

The Times - Art Spot - March 15/2010

Artist CV

Education

• 2007: B-Tech Degree Fine Art - Tshwane University of Technology Sculpture (achieved with distinction) and Art Theory IV

Collections

• Corporate: AKANI: Melissa Mboweni (Sculpture: Puzzled)
• Corporate: Foundation Kunst: Raum Sylt-Quelle, Rantum, Germany (Sculpture: Fragments of Her)
• Corporate: CSIR: Department of Science and Technology (Sculpture: Path of subtleties)
• Corporate: Tshwane University of Technology (Sculpture: Universal paths I & Drawing: Traces of her)
• Private: Seippel Gallery, Ralf-P Seippel (Sculpture: Universal paths II)

Solo Exhibitions

• 2017
  Fried Contemporary Gallery; Bleeding Roots, Pretoria
• 2014
  Lizamore & Assoc. Gallery; Safe, Johannesburg

Group Exhibitions

• 2014
  Arts Association of Pretoria; Easter Symbols, Pretoria
• 2013
  FNB Johannesburg Artfair; Santon Convention centre

  Arts Association of Pretoria; Group show

  Longstreet Art Lovers Gallery, 'Alice in Wonderland', curated by Gordon Froud; Pretoria

  Assemblage, (as part of Joburg Art Fringe) ' Diptych', did a collaboration piece with Poorvi

  Bhana, Liberty building Johannesburg

  Turbine Art Fair, Artspace, Turbine Hall; Johannesburg

  Upstairs@Bamboo, 'Site' curated by Carol Lee; Johannesburg

  IS art Gallery, 'Woodworks', Capetown

  Haines Gallery , Woman's month; Johannesburg

  Longstreet Art Lovers Gallery, 'Miniature Exhibition; Pretoria

  Jan Cilliers group show, curated by Teresa Lizamore Artspace
• 2012
  Art-space Gallery, ‘I am safe here’, Johannesburg (Rosebank)

  Design Indaba, 'My art child' Sponsored by Absa for Absa le'atelier

  KKNK festival 'Ik ben een Afrikander', curated by Teresa Lizamore

  Pretoria Arts Association, Collaboration artwork with Daniel Mosako for 'World Art Day'
• 2011
  Artspace Gallery, ‘360° Johannesburg’, Johannesburg

  FNB Johannesburg Artfair; Santon Convention centre

  Seippel Gallery, group show; Johannesburg
• 2010
  Art-space Gallery, ‘Oppie-tafel’, Johannesburg (Rosebank)

  Pretoria Art Museum,’ Neo Emergence’, Pretoria

  Art-space Warehouse Gallery, ‘Skin’, Johannesburg

  National Cultural History Museum, ‘Concept_Exhibition’, Pretoria

  Joburg Art Fair, under ‘Seippel gallery’

  Duncan Yard Gallery, ‘Woman @ Work’ , Pretoria

  Seippel Gallery, ‘Wooden dialog’, (with German sculptor Werner Mally), Johannesburg
• 2009
  Aardklop Art Festival, ‘Young Curator’, Potchefstroom

  Dorpstraat Gallery, group exhibition, Stellenbosch

  Duncan Yard Gallery, ‘Switzerland’, Pretoria

  Seippel Gallery, ‘Sculpture Exibition’ .Johnnesburg

  Addict-Lab (design) exhibition, at Design Quarter, Johannesburg
• 2008
  Duncan Yard Gallery, ‘My Shrine , Pretoria

  Seippel Gallery, ‘Emerging Layers’, Johannesburg

  Kyk Gallery, “Artificial light “, Pretoria (Sunnyside)

  Centurion Art Gallery, ‘Rehearsal’ Centurion

  Platform on 18th “Content”, Pretoria

  Art@Karoo gallery, “Silent Congregation” Pretoria

  Addict-Lab (design) exhibition, at Design Quarter, Johannesburg

  National Cultural History Museum, student exhibition, Pretoria
• 2007
  Addict-Lab (design) exhibition, at the Lister Medical Building, Johannesburg

  Diploma student exhibition: UNISA art gallery, Pretoria
• 2006
  Private group exibition of work; ‘Woman against rape’

Finalist: Competitions Entered & Exhibited

• 2013
  Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Award, Merit award for best Sculpture

  Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Award, Top 10

  ABSA Le’Atelier art competition, Johannesburg
• 2011
  Selected Proposal for the Standard Bank / Lascaris ‘Ampersand’ Sculpture Competition
• 2010
  ABSA Atelier art competition, Johannesburg
• 2009
  Vuleka Sanlam Art Competition, Bellville Art Association

  Ekurhuleni Art Competition, Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre
• 2008
  ABSA Atelier art competition, Johannesburg

  PPC Young Concrete Sculpture Awards, Association of Arts Pretoria

  Ekurhuleni Art Competition, Top 100, Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre
• 2006
  Sasol New Signatures Young Artist’s Award, Pretoria Art Museum

  PPC Young Concrete Sculpture Awards, Association of Arts Pretoria

  MR. Price & House and Leisure design competition:

  Ceramic tableware – “Child’s play”
• 2005
  Sasol New Signatures Young Artist’s Award, Pretoria Art Museum

  PPC Young Concrete Sculpture Awards, Association of Arts Pretoria

Awards

• 2013 Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Award, Merit award for best Sculpture
• 2009 Ekurhuleni Art Competition, Top 10
• 2008 Ekurhuleni Art Competition, Top 10

Other

• 2013 Featured artist at Africa Fashion Week; Pretoria City Hall
• 2011 Standard Bank accepted my proposal for a large sculpture of an ampersand for their advertising campaign,
• 2010 Great Expectations interview; “The benefit of art in a child’s life”. Aired 26 May, 12:30 E-TV
• 2007 and 2009 Judicator at an art competition, Bryanston Parallel Medium
• 2008 Chosen as one of three artists to take part in a documentary series about art, “Dreaming the new”. Aired 17 September 2008, 21:00 SABC 1
• 2007 – 2011 Employee at Smudge; Childrens art center in Johannesburg