Hannes Meiring, born in Potchefstroom Transvaal in 1934, is a practising architect, painter and graphic artist and has been a major influence in the preservation of South Africa's architectural heritage. Through his sketches and paintings of landscapes, town scenes and architecture he has created an awareness of what we stand to lose. He was awarded the Gold Medal from the Simon van der Stel Foundation for his preservation efforts, and received an Award of Merit from the Akademie vir Wetenskap en Kuns for his work. Hannes trained at the University of Cape Town, and the Akademie der Bildende Kunste in Munich. He has travelled widely. He has been chairman of the Northern Transvaal branch of the Simon van der Stel Foundation, a member of the Institute of SA Architects, and part time lecturer at the School of Architecture, University of Pretoria.

He has illustrated, written or co-author of eight books on our architectural heritage. He has participated in several group exhibitions in South Africa and Germany, has had eight solo exhibitions and his work is represented at the universities of Potchefstroom, RAU, Stellenbosch, the S.A.B.C., City Council of Pretoria as well as the Pretoria Art Museum and the Department of Foreign Affairs.

He has been awarded four Merit Awards for restoration and architectural design from the Transvaal Institute of Architects in 1989 and 1993.

Meiring accepts commissions to draw or paint owner's houses. He is currently compiling a series of buildings illustrating South African residential architecture.

ART REVIEWS

1. His drawings sparkle with the freshness and uncontrived line of a Matisse or Picasso drawing. Always there is atmosphere and admirable veracity in the artist's sureness of touch.

2. With unstudied simple exuberance he revels in the atmosphere of the buildings he draws. The ethos of the building is brought to life. Looking at one of his drawings one has the feeling of awe at seeing something for the first time. His interpretation of his subject is never preconceived. Meiring enjoys buildings with a full-blooded whole-hearted ebullience. His use of colour is as free and expressionistic as the lines and squiggles which interpret the intricacies of the subject.

3. Through Meiring's eyes we become aware of the charm and atmosphere of buildings. He draws with the skill and self-confidence of the mature architect he is.

4. Meiring's drawings are instant Africana that promise to become collector's items in the not too distant future.

PUBLICATIONS

1972 - Kruger's Pretoria - with Vivian Allen, AA Balkema

1977 - Boukunsskatte van Suid-Afrika - Human & Rosseau

1979 - Stellenbosch te voet - with Ters van Huyssteen, Tafelberg

1980 - Pretoria 125 - with Anna Jonker, Human & Rosseau

1983 - Hart van die Boland Deel I - with Ters van Huyssteen, Tafelberg

1985 - Early Johannesburg - with G.M. van der Waal, Wilhelm Grútter and Anna Jonker, Human & Rosseau

1993 - Footloose in Stellenbosch - a visitors guide with Ters van Huyssteen, Tafelberg

2002 - Sanlam Calendar 2002