Christiaan Diedericks
Works in the contemporary exhibition "Utopias"
Portrait
Homepage
www.chrisdiedericks.co.za
We have always come to ourselves as a rich raw material for creation. The idiosyncratic, everyday person is a subject, with no act or feeling too intimate, too trivial to be shaped into biography; or autobiography. Chris Diedericks takes the Self in all its vagrancy and after reworking it, illustrates it anew – a saturated wilderness of mystery and beauty, epic memories, bitter struggles and exhilaration. From this vantage point are vistas never seen or revealed before.
Personal Profile
Energetic, healthy, professional and self-motivated practising contemporary artist, educator and creative development specialist with proven facilitation skills and experience in education, soft skills, technical skills and (project) management skills, as well as extensive experience in the specific areas of new media, printmaking, graphic design, creative process and also the design, implementation and facilitation of curriculum programmes in-line with national qualification Initiatives. Christiaan has the Inherent ability to collaborate effectively within a team in order to realise organisational objectives through transformational leadership. Motivator with well developed communication and interpersonal skills and commitment to excellence in art practice, research, education and conceptual development.
Date of Birth
13 February 1965
Address
PO Box 4054
13 February 1965
Address
PO Box 4054
Cape Town
2010
South Africa
2010
South Africa
Diedericks/Faber Fine Art
Shop A007, The Terrace
THE PALMS DECOR & LIFESTYLE CENTRE
145 SIR LOWRY ROAD
Woodstock
Cape Town
8000
Contact Details:
Cell: +27 83 290 1638
Studio: +27 21 461 1344
Educational Background
1982: Matric - Potchefstroom Gimnasium
1986: BSc - Potchefstroom University (renamed University of the North West)
Majors: Human Physiology & Human Movement Sciences
Shop A007, The Terrace
THE PALMS DECOR & LIFESTYLE CENTRE
145 SIR LOWRY ROAD
Woodstock
Cape Town
8000
Contact Details:
Cell: +27 83 290 1638
Studio: +27 21 461 1344
Educational Background
1982: Matric - Potchefstroom Gimnasium
1986: BSc - Potchefstroom University (renamed University of the North West)
Majors: Human Physiology & Human Movement Sciences
Minor subjects completed successfully:
Chemistry and Physics 1
Botany and Zoology 1
Psychology 1&2
Biokinetics 1-3
Anatomy 1
1992: BA(FA) Cum Laude - Potchefstroom University (renamed University of the North West)
Majors: Printmaking & Graphic Design
Chemistry and Physics 1
Botany and Zoology 1
Psychology 1&2
Biokinetics 1-3
Anatomy 1
1992: BA(FA) Cum Laude - Potchefstroom University (renamed University of the North West)
Majors: Printmaking & Graphic Design
Minor subjects completed successfully:
Painting 1&2
History of Art 1-3
Philosophy 1
Photography 1
2000: MA(FA) Practical component cum laude - University of Pretoria
Vocational Experience
17 years experience in tertiary education
January 1993 – June 1995
Lecturer in printmaking and graphic design, University of the North West – Potchefstroom
July 1995 – December 1997
Lecturer in fine art, Vaal University of Technology – Vanderbijlpark
January 1998 – December 1999
Lecturer in fine art and graphic design, The Open Window Art Academy – Pretoria
January 2000 - December 2010
Lecturer in creative development, Vega the Brand Communications School – Johannesburg (2000 – 2006) and Cape Town - special projects manager & lecturer in creative development (2007 to 2010)
January 2011 - August 2013
Lecturer in graphic design, CTi – Durbanville campus – Cape Town
From September 2013 – to date
Full time artist and director at Diedericks/Faber Fine Art, Cape Town
Additional Experience
1994: Invitation to stay and work at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
1995: Invitation to stay and work at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
1997/8: Invitation to stay and work at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
1998: National Printmaking Conference, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Freelance design work for Nampak (Cuddlers)
1998/9: Educational sojourn to Egypt to attend the 7th Cairo Biennale
Educational sojourn to Ethiopia and Kenya
1999: Non-toxic printmaking workshop at Fairview College, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
2001: Photoshop & Freehand courses at Vega, Sandton, Johannesburg
2004: Educational sojourn to the Cite Internationale, Paris, France
2005: Educational sojourn to Croatia, Venice, Ghana & Zanzibar
Educational sojourn to the Cite Internationale, Paris, France
2006: CD sleeve design for Justin Egling, Sandton, Johannesburg
2006 – 2009: Post-graduate research supervision
Educational sojourn to New York City (July and November – January 2007)
Educational sojourn to Zanzibar
2007: Educational sojourn to Paris, Spain and Morocco
2007/8: Educational sojourn to NYC and Argentina
2008: Educational sojourn to Zanzibar and Madagascar
External moderator at the CTI (Bellville and Rondebosch
campuses)
2009: Educational sojourn to Tourtour and Paris, France
External moderator at the CTI (Bellville and Rondebosch
campuses), Cape Town
External examiner – Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town
Educational sojourn to NYC and San Francisco
2011: Educational sojourn to Istanbul, Turkey
2012: Educational sojourn to Venice, Rome and Florence, Italy
Educational sojourn to Istanbul, Turkey
2013: Invited curator of the exhibition Velvet @ the ABSA KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Educational sojourn to Florence, Italy
Educational sojourn to Seoul and Boryeong, South-Korea
Skills, Processes & Techniques
Fine Arts:
Advanced printmaking – all processes (intaglio, xylography, silk-screening, engraving, lithography, including all photographic processes, new/digital printmaking)
Master printer – trained at the Atelier Torben Bo Halbirk, Paris, France in 1994
Non-toxic printmaking
Drawing (traditional and conceptual)
Painting (traditional and conceptual)
Photography – traditional & digital (including b/w darkroom techniques)
New Media (including a wide variety of computer programmes and applications)
Installation and collaborative practice
Art curation
History of art
Critical theory
Extensive experience in creative process and -development
Post-graduate research supervision
Painting 1&2
History of Art 1-3
Philosophy 1
Photography 1
2000: MA(FA) Practical component cum laude - University of Pretoria
Vocational Experience
17 years experience in tertiary education
January 1993 – June 1995
Lecturer in printmaking and graphic design, University of the North West – Potchefstroom
July 1995 – December 1997
Lecturer in fine art, Vaal University of Technology – Vanderbijlpark
January 1998 – December 1999
Lecturer in fine art and graphic design, The Open Window Art Academy – Pretoria
January 2000 - December 2010
Lecturer in creative development, Vega the Brand Communications School – Johannesburg (2000 – 2006) and Cape Town - special projects manager & lecturer in creative development (2007 to 2010)
January 2011 - August 2013
Lecturer in graphic design, CTi – Durbanville campus – Cape Town
From September 2013 – to date
Full time artist and director at Diedericks/Faber Fine Art, Cape Town
Additional Experience
1994: Invitation to stay and work at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
1995: Invitation to stay and work at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
1997/8: Invitation to stay and work at the Cité International des Arts, Paris, France
1998: National Printmaking Conference, Rhodes University, Grahamstown
Freelance design work for Nampak (Cuddlers)
1998/9: Educational sojourn to Egypt to attend the 7th Cairo Biennale
Educational sojourn to Ethiopia and Kenya
1999: Non-toxic printmaking workshop at Fairview College, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada
2001: Photoshop & Freehand courses at Vega, Sandton, Johannesburg
2004: Educational sojourn to the Cite Internationale, Paris, France
2005: Educational sojourn to Croatia, Venice, Ghana & Zanzibar
Educational sojourn to the Cite Internationale, Paris, France
2006: CD sleeve design for Justin Egling, Sandton, Johannesburg
2006 – 2009: Post-graduate research supervision
Educational sojourn to New York City (July and November – January 2007)
Educational sojourn to Zanzibar
2007: Educational sojourn to Paris, Spain and Morocco
2007/8: Educational sojourn to NYC and Argentina
2008: Educational sojourn to Zanzibar and Madagascar
External moderator at the CTI (Bellville and Rondebosch
campuses)
2009: Educational sojourn to Tourtour and Paris, France
External moderator at the CTI (Bellville and Rondebosch
campuses), Cape Town
External examiner – Ruth Prowse School of Art, Cape Town
Educational sojourn to NYC and San Francisco
2011: Educational sojourn to Istanbul, Turkey
2012: Educational sojourn to Venice, Rome and Florence, Italy
Educational sojourn to Istanbul, Turkey
2013: Invited curator of the exhibition Velvet @ the ABSA KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Educational sojourn to Florence, Italy
Educational sojourn to Seoul and Boryeong, South-Korea
Skills, Processes & Techniques
Fine Arts:
Advanced printmaking – all processes (intaglio, xylography, silk-screening, engraving, lithography, including all photographic processes, new/digital printmaking)
Master printer – trained at the Atelier Torben Bo Halbirk, Paris, France in 1994
Non-toxic printmaking
Drawing (traditional and conceptual)
Painting (traditional and conceptual)
Photography – traditional & digital (including b/w darkroom techniques)
New Media (including a wide variety of computer programmes and applications)
Installation and collaborative practice
Art curation
History of art
Critical theory
Extensive experience in creative process and -development
Post-graduate research supervision
Graphic Design & Branding:
2d, including corporate id, print, outdoor etc.
3d, including packaging, product etc.
Ambient/ alternative media
Branding and strategy
Campaigns
History of Design
Design theory
Extensive experience in creative process and development
2d, including corporate id, print, outdoor etc.
3d, including packaging, product etc.
Ambient/ alternative media
Branding and strategy
Campaigns
History of Design
Design theory
Extensive experience in creative process and development
Specific computer/digital skills:
Advanced Adobe Photoshop (CS4)
Adobe Fireworks (CS4)
Advanced Macromedia Freehand MX
Basic Adobe Flash (CS4)
MS Office 2008 (Word, Excel, PP etc.)
iMovie HD
Basic stop-frame animation
Comfortable on both PC and Mac platforms
Representative Galleries
The Haas Collective, Cape Town
Christopher Möller Art, Cape Town
University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
Bayliss Gallery, Johannesburg
artSPACE – Durban
Leslie/Lohman Museum for Gay and Lesbian Art, NYC, USA
Fried Contemporary, Pretoria
Kunst, Musik & Knodel, Germany
Exhibitions National
1990
New Signatures – Pretoria
1991
Rolfes Impressions - Bloemfontein
New Signatures - Pretoria
Arts and Drama festival – Pretoria
Advanced Adobe Photoshop (CS4)
Adobe Fireworks (CS4)
Advanced Macromedia Freehand MX
Basic Adobe Flash (CS4)
MS Office 2008 (Word, Excel, PP etc.)
iMovie HD
Basic stop-frame animation
Comfortable on both PC and Mac platforms
Representative Galleries
The Haas Collective, Cape Town
Christopher Möller Art, Cape Town
University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
Bayliss Gallery, Johannesburg
artSPACE – Durban
Leslie/Lohman Museum for Gay and Lesbian Art, NYC, USA
Fried Contemporary, Pretoria
Kunst, Musik & Knodel, Germany
Exhibitions National
1990
New Signatures – Pretoria
1991
Rolfes Impressions - Bloemfontein
New Signatures - Pretoria
Arts and Drama festival – Pretoria
1992
Pan Africa – Potchefstroom
1993
ABSA Atelier - Pretoria
Momentum - Pretoria
Reconciliations 2 - Potchefstroom
PPC Young Sculptor Award – Pretoria
1994
ABSA Atelier - Johannesburg
Kempton Park Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
1995
Johannesburg Biennale fringe - WSSA - Pulse of Africa - Johannesburg
Kempton Park Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
1996
ABSA Atelier - Pretoria
26th National exhibition of contemporary art - Strydom Gallery, George
1998
ABSA Atelier – Pietersburg
1999
ABSA Atelier – Pretoria
2000
French-African Connection – Pretoria
2001
Gallery 88 - Sasolburg
Merely Mortal - Kiteworks - Johannesburg
Art on Paper (A decade of collaboration) – Melville
2002
Edge, staff & industry exhibition , Vega, Sandton
2003
Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
SASOL Wax Art Competition – Sasolburg
Brett Kebble Fine Arts Award – Cape Town
2004
Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
2006
Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
2009
Dystopia (curated by Prof Elfriede Dreyer)
Pretoria – UNISA art gallery – May 23 – June 30
Johannesburg – Museumafrica – October 8 – November 15
Bloemfontein – Oliewenhuis Art Museum – June 10 – August 8, 2010
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio (curated by Judy Woodborne) – KKNK, Oudtshoorn, Pretoria, Cape Town
2012
Die Taal van Teken – ABSA KKNK, Oudtshoorn (curated by Corli de Kock)
Coming of Age: 21 Years of The Artist’s Proof Studio (curated by Kim Berman), Johannesburg Art Gallery
2013
The Joburg Art Fair 2013 – Represented by The South African Print Gallery, Johannesburg
artforme - Cape Town Art Fair 2013 – Represented by Diedericks/Faber Fine Art, Cape Town
2014
The Cape Town Art Fair 2014 – Represented by The South African Print Gallery, Cape Town
The Turbine Art Fair 2014 – Represented by Diedericks/Faber Fine Art, Johannesburg
Deconstructing Dogma – (curated by Prof Karen von Veh), UJ Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Artists for Human Rights Print Portfolio (curated by Jan Jordaan – Durban
Performing Wo/Man – (curated by Derek Zietsman), UJ Art Gallery, Johannesburg
The Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award – (adjudicated by Marilyn Martin, Karen McKerron & Brenton Maart), Bouchard Finlayson wine cellar, Cape Town
International Exhibitions
1994
Salle Edouard Sandoz, Cité Internationale des Arts - Paris - France
Graffinova ‘94 - 6th annual triennale of prints and drawings - Vaasa - Finland
Deuxieme triennale mondiale d’estampes petit format, Chamalieres - Auvergne - France
Pan Africa – Potchefstroom
1993
ABSA Atelier - Pretoria
Momentum - Pretoria
Reconciliations 2 - Potchefstroom
PPC Young Sculptor Award – Pretoria
1994
ABSA Atelier - Johannesburg
Kempton Park Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
1995
Johannesburg Biennale fringe - WSSA - Pulse of Africa - Johannesburg
Kempton Park Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
1996
ABSA Atelier - Pretoria
26th National exhibition of contemporary art - Strydom Gallery, George
1998
ABSA Atelier – Pietersburg
1999
ABSA Atelier – Pretoria
2000
French-African Connection – Pretoria
2001
Gallery 88 - Sasolburg
Merely Mortal - Kiteworks - Johannesburg
Art on Paper (A decade of collaboration) – Melville
2002
Edge, staff & industry exhibition , Vega, Sandton
2003
Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
SASOL Wax Art Competition – Sasolburg
Brett Kebble Fine Arts Award – Cape Town
2004
Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
2006
Ekurhuleni Fine Arts Award – Johannesburg
2009
Dystopia (curated by Prof Elfriede Dreyer)
Pretoria – UNISA art gallery – May 23 – June 30
Johannesburg – Museumafrica – October 8 – November 15
Bloemfontein – Oliewenhuis Art Museum – June 10 – August 8, 2010
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio (curated by Judy Woodborne) – KKNK, Oudtshoorn, Pretoria, Cape Town
2012
Die Taal van Teken – ABSA KKNK, Oudtshoorn (curated by Corli de Kock)
Coming of Age: 21 Years of The Artist’s Proof Studio (curated by Kim Berman), Johannesburg Art Gallery
2013
The Joburg Art Fair 2013 – Represented by The South African Print Gallery, Johannesburg
artforme - Cape Town Art Fair 2013 – Represented by Diedericks/Faber Fine Art, Cape Town
2014
The Cape Town Art Fair 2014 – Represented by The South African Print Gallery, Cape Town
The Turbine Art Fair 2014 – Represented by Diedericks/Faber Fine Art, Johannesburg
Deconstructing Dogma – (curated by Prof Karen von Veh), UJ Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Artists for Human Rights Print Portfolio (curated by Jan Jordaan – Durban
Performing Wo/Man – (curated by Derek Zietsman), UJ Art Gallery, Johannesburg
The Tollman Bouchard Finlayson Art Award – (adjudicated by Marilyn Martin, Karen McKerron & Brenton Maart), Bouchard Finlayson wine cellar, Cape Town
International Exhibitions
1994
Salle Edouard Sandoz, Cité Internationale des Arts - Paris - France
Graffinova ‘94 - 6th annual triennale of prints and drawings - Vaasa - Finland
Deuxieme triennale mondiale d’estampes petit format, Chamalieres - Auvergne - France
1995
Art ‘95 - Bardonia - NYC - USA
8th International Independent Exhibition of Prints - Kanagawa - Japan
21 Leipziger Grafikbörse - Leipzig – Germany
1996
Show with Stanislav Marijanovic - Isle of KRK, Croatia
1997
Quatrieme triennale mondiale d’estampes petit format - Chamalieres - Auvergne, France
7th International biennale of portrait drawings and graphics - Tuzla - Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Artistas de l’atelier Torben Bo Halbirk, Museo Nacional del Grabado - Buenos Aires - Argentina
1998
Graffinova ‘98 - 7th triennale of prints and drawings - VAASA - Finland
1999
Mini print internacional cadaques - Barcelona - Spain
2000
Cinqueme triennale mondiale d’estampes petit format, Chamalieres - Auvergne – France
International print triennial 2000 - Cracow - Poland
International print triennale - Nürnberg - Germany
2001
Address/Redress print collection, Cultureel Centrum - Leper - Belgium
Address/Redress print collection - Co Art Foundation - Ostend - Belgium
Breaking the silence print collection, Human Rights Convention, Geneva, Switzerland
2002
Breaking the silence: the HIV/AIDS billboard and print portfolio
National Art Gallery of Namibia
UCLA Fowler Museum, USA
Palais de Nation, Geneva
TATHAM Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
University of Dundee, Scotland
Dakar biennale, Senegal
Asian biennale, Bangladesh
South Africa House, London
2003
4th International graphic triennial, Bitola, Macedonia (special mention)
2004
Caixanova engraving biennial, Spain
2005
Galerie Gora, Montréal, Canada
2006
New York That Is, Brooklyn Arts Council, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC, USA
Lilly Oncology on canvas, Royal College of Art, London, England
2007
Group exhibition, Gallery 5+5, Brooklyn. NYC
newmediafest2007:
Forum for internet technology in contemporary art
Curated by wilfried agricola de cologne
http://www.javamuseum.org/blog/?page_id=44
http://www.nmartproject.net/artists/?p=1442
2008
Art Actually!, Leslie/Lohman Gay and Lesbian Art Foundation, Soho, NYC, USA
July, artSPACE, Berlin, Germany
Einladung, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany
Elledorado Jubiläumsauktion, Galerie Lorch+Seidel Contemporary, Berlin, Germany
2009
New Acquisitions, Leslie/Lohman Gay and Lesbian Art Foundation, SOHO, NYC, USA
ASPOA (A small piece of Africa), artSPACE, Berlin, Germany
Cold Sweat (The print series), Focus Contemporary, Tourtour, France
2010
Dystopia, Jan Colle Galerij – October 17 – November 21, 2010, Ghent, Belgium
The Landscape: Unity and Diversity, Centre for Exposition of World Arts and Culture (CEWAC), Hyderabad, India, 23 July to 7 August 2010
ummer Show, Focus Contemporary | Fine African Art. Tourtour,
South of France, July/August 2010
A CULTURAL BRIDGE - INDIA / SOUTH AFRICA, Arts Association, Pretoria, September 2010
2011
7th Biennale Internationale D’Estampe Contemporaine de Trois Rivieres, Trois-Rivieres, Québec, Canada
Collection 2010, 20 January to 31 March, Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
2012
UNCENSORED: Queer Art and the Church, 27 – 31 March, Leslie- Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, Soho, NYC, USA
International Print Triennial - Krakow 2012, Poland
International Print Triennial - Dalarnas Museum, Falun, Sweden
International Print Triennial - Mimar University, Istanbul, Turkey
12th Gielnak Graphic Arts Competition – Museum Karkonoskie, Góra, Poland
Afriques du Sud, oeuvres contemporaines, Espace Culturel l’Hermine, 10 – 30 Novembre 2012, Sarzeau, France
2013
La 9e biennale internationale de gravure contemporaine de la ville de Liège – Liège , Belgium
4th International Guanlan Print Biennial – Shenzhen, China
Splitgraphic – 4th International Print Biennial – Split, Croatia
Agora – 4th Athens Biennale – Athens, Greece
Johannesburg Art Fair – Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cape Town Art Fair – The Lookout, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
2014
Cape Town Art Fair – The Pavilion, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
Selected Group Exhibitions
1993-96: Participated in numerous (more than 40) group shows in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Potchefstroom, Grahamstown, George, Sasolburg and Boputhatswana
1993: South African Arts Association - Pretoria
1995: Pretoria Art Museum with Michael Heyns and friends
1996: Gala opening of the Open Window Contemporary Art Gallery - Pretoria
Squared Art - Café Palette - Pretoria Art Museum
Masters exhibition - NSA - Durban
rtists working in collaboration with the artist’s press - SAAA – ABSA Centre – Pretoria
Selected exhibitions after 1996:
1997
The Open Window Art Gallery - Pretoria
Erotic Art - Thompson Gallery - Melville
Annual Exhibition - Strydom Art Gallery - George
The Art Circle - Potchefstroom
1998
Gallery 88 - Sasolburg
Johannes Stegman Art Gallery - Bloemfontein
NSA - Durban with Diane Victor and Deanne Donaldson
Campus Gallery - Printmaking 2 - University of Pretoria
1999
Gallery 88 – Sasolburg
2000
African French Connection – Pretoria
2001
Written on the body - Millennium Gallery with Jaco Benade and Errol Westley - Pretoria
Flush - The Open Window Art Gallery with Hanneke Benade, Annelise Bowker-Marais and Maja Pfeiffer - Pretoria
NERVE - Vega staff exhibition - Sandton
Official opening of the Millennium 2 gallery - Rosebank, Johannesburg
2002
Chance Encounters, The Art Space, Johannesburg
88 Artists, Gallery 88 Sasolburg
Erotic Exhibition, Merely Mortal, Hyde Park
Edge, Vega staff exhibition, Johannesburg
Chance Encounters, Artspace gallery, Johannesburg
Male Order, Durban Art Gallery (DAG), Durban
2003
Love in a time of ambivalence, SANAVA Gallery, Pretoria
Gay and lesbian film festival, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Design exhibition, Merely Mortal Gallery, Johannesburg
Erotica exhibition, SANAVA Gallery, Pretoria
Male Order, Pretoria Art Museum
gordart Gallery, Melville, Johannesburg
2004
Residue, AVA, Cape Town with André Naudé
art.co.za Group exhibition, Johannesburg
Bonolo Botshelo (Fragile Life), Museumafrica, Johannesburg
art lp, gordart Gallery, Melville, Johannesburg
t-shirt Show, Supreme Guardian Council, Johannesburg
Residue 2, Waterkloof, Pretoria
David’s Choice, Dorp Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
Studio show with André Naudé, Waterkloof, Pretoria
ani(male), Artspace, Johannesburg
Points & Pixels, NSA, Durban
Post – POP, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Cheap Scate, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Oppitafel, Artspace, Johannesburg
Christmas show, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
2005
Group show, AVA, Cape Town
Miniature Art, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
CUBE, CARFAX, Johannesburg
Porn Again, Merely Mortal & gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
Appletiser Art Commission, Studio Gesso, Johannesburg
Smirnoff fridge commission, ATLAS Studios, Johannesburg
Now is the time, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Beelspraak, Exhibition in Die Beeld Newspaper (co-curator with Gordon Froud)
MAN, Rust and Vrede Gallery, Cape Town
Ansisters, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
When joburg Is Asleep…, Moja Modern Gallery, Johannesburg
Gallery Voir, Brooklyn Square, Pretoria
Artists in Conversation, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria
Oppitafel, Artspace, Johannesburg
’Splat’, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
2006
40 x 40 x 40, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
40 x 40 x 40, Melville, Johannesburg
Corpus Colossus with Merwelene van der Merwe and Angus Taylor, gordart Gallery, Melville
Group portrait show, AVA, Cape Town
18 years, Gallery 88, Sasolburg
Chapter one (2003 – 2006), gordart, Snowflake building, AARDKLOP Festival, Potchefstroom
2007
Boerekitch, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
ct24, Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
Grand opening, Off the Wall Gallery, Paarl
Talents, Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
On Paper, Off the Wall Gallery, Paarl
The postcard exhibition, Off the Wall Gallery, Paarl
2008
Rendezvous sculpture exhibition, North-West University, Potchefstroom
Faces and Places, Off the Wall Contemporary, Paarl
Art ‘95 - Bardonia - NYC - USA
8th International Independent Exhibition of Prints - Kanagawa - Japan
21 Leipziger Grafikbörse - Leipzig – Germany
1996
Show with Stanislav Marijanovic - Isle of KRK, Croatia
1997
Quatrieme triennale mondiale d’estampes petit format - Chamalieres - Auvergne, France
7th International biennale of portrait drawings and graphics - Tuzla - Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Artistas de l’atelier Torben Bo Halbirk, Museo Nacional del Grabado - Buenos Aires - Argentina
1998
Graffinova ‘98 - 7th triennale of prints and drawings - VAASA - Finland
1999
Mini print internacional cadaques - Barcelona - Spain
2000
Cinqueme triennale mondiale d’estampes petit format, Chamalieres - Auvergne – France
International print triennial 2000 - Cracow - Poland
International print triennale - Nürnberg - Germany
2001
Address/Redress print collection, Cultureel Centrum - Leper - Belgium
Address/Redress print collection - Co Art Foundation - Ostend - Belgium
Breaking the silence print collection, Human Rights Convention, Geneva, Switzerland
2002
Breaking the silence: the HIV/AIDS billboard and print portfolio
National Art Gallery of Namibia
UCLA Fowler Museum, USA
Palais de Nation, Geneva
TATHAM Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg
University of Dundee, Scotland
Dakar biennale, Senegal
Asian biennale, Bangladesh
South Africa House, London
2003
4th International graphic triennial, Bitola, Macedonia (special mention)
2004
Caixanova engraving biennial, Spain
2005
Galerie Gora, Montréal, Canada
2006
New York That Is, Brooklyn Arts Council, Dumbo, Brooklyn, NYC, USA
Lilly Oncology on canvas, Royal College of Art, London, England
2007
Group exhibition, Gallery 5+5, Brooklyn. NYC
newmediafest2007:
Forum for internet technology in contemporary art
Curated by wilfried agricola de cologne
http://www.javamuseum.org/blog/?page_id=44
http://www.nmartproject.net/artists/?p=1442
2008
Art Actually!, Leslie/Lohman Gay and Lesbian Art Foundation, Soho, NYC, USA
July, artSPACE, Berlin, Germany
Einladung, Berlinische Galerie, Berlin, Germany
Elledorado Jubiläumsauktion, Galerie Lorch+Seidel Contemporary, Berlin, Germany
2009
New Acquisitions, Leslie/Lohman Gay and Lesbian Art Foundation, SOHO, NYC, USA
ASPOA (A small piece of Africa), artSPACE, Berlin, Germany
Cold Sweat (The print series), Focus Contemporary, Tourtour, France
2010
Dystopia, Jan Colle Galerij – October 17 – November 21, 2010, Ghent, Belgium
The Landscape: Unity and Diversity, Centre for Exposition of World Arts and Culture (CEWAC), Hyderabad, India, 23 July to 7 August 2010
ummer Show, Focus Contemporary | Fine African Art. Tourtour,
South of France, July/August 2010
A CULTURAL BRIDGE - INDIA / SOUTH AFRICA, Arts Association, Pretoria, September 2010
2011
7th Biennale Internationale D’Estampe Contemporaine de Trois Rivieres, Trois-Rivieres, Québec, Canada
Collection 2010, 20 January to 31 March, Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
2012
UNCENSORED: Queer Art and the Church, 27 – 31 March, Leslie- Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art, Soho, NYC, USA
International Print Triennial - Krakow 2012, Poland
International Print Triennial - Dalarnas Museum, Falun, Sweden
International Print Triennial - Mimar University, Istanbul, Turkey
12th Gielnak Graphic Arts Competition – Museum Karkonoskie, Góra, Poland
Afriques du Sud, oeuvres contemporaines, Espace Culturel l’Hermine, 10 – 30 Novembre 2012, Sarzeau, France
2013
La 9e biennale internationale de gravure contemporaine de la ville de Liège – Liège , Belgium
4th International Guanlan Print Biennial – Shenzhen, China
Splitgraphic – 4th International Print Biennial – Split, Croatia
Agora – 4th Athens Biennale – Athens, Greece
Johannesburg Art Fair – Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
Cape Town Art Fair – The Lookout, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
2014
Cape Town Art Fair – The Pavilion, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
Selected Group Exhibitions
1993-96: Participated in numerous (more than 40) group shows in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Potchefstroom, Grahamstown, George, Sasolburg and Boputhatswana
1993: South African Arts Association - Pretoria
1995: Pretoria Art Museum with Michael Heyns and friends
1996: Gala opening of the Open Window Contemporary Art Gallery - Pretoria
Squared Art - Café Palette - Pretoria Art Museum
Masters exhibition - NSA - Durban
rtists working in collaboration with the artist’s press - SAAA – ABSA Centre – Pretoria
Selected exhibitions after 1996:
1997
The Open Window Art Gallery - Pretoria
Erotic Art - Thompson Gallery - Melville
Annual Exhibition - Strydom Art Gallery - George
The Art Circle - Potchefstroom
1998
Gallery 88 - Sasolburg
Johannes Stegman Art Gallery - Bloemfontein
NSA - Durban with Diane Victor and Deanne Donaldson
Campus Gallery - Printmaking 2 - University of Pretoria
1999
Gallery 88 – Sasolburg
2000
African French Connection – Pretoria
2001
Written on the body - Millennium Gallery with Jaco Benade and Errol Westley - Pretoria
Flush - The Open Window Art Gallery with Hanneke Benade, Annelise Bowker-Marais and Maja Pfeiffer - Pretoria
NERVE - Vega staff exhibition - Sandton
Official opening of the Millennium 2 gallery - Rosebank, Johannesburg
2002
Chance Encounters, The Art Space, Johannesburg
88 Artists, Gallery 88 Sasolburg
Erotic Exhibition, Merely Mortal, Hyde Park
Edge, Vega staff exhibition, Johannesburg
Chance Encounters, Artspace gallery, Johannesburg
Male Order, Durban Art Gallery (DAG), Durban
2003
Love in a time of ambivalence, SANAVA Gallery, Pretoria
Gay and lesbian film festival, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Design exhibition, Merely Mortal Gallery, Johannesburg
Erotica exhibition, SANAVA Gallery, Pretoria
Male Order, Pretoria Art Museum
gordart Gallery, Melville, Johannesburg
2004
Residue, AVA, Cape Town with André Naudé
art.co.za Group exhibition, Johannesburg
Bonolo Botshelo (Fragile Life), Museumafrica, Johannesburg
art lp, gordart Gallery, Melville, Johannesburg
t-shirt Show, Supreme Guardian Council, Johannesburg
Residue 2, Waterkloof, Pretoria
David’s Choice, Dorp Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
Studio show with André Naudé, Waterkloof, Pretoria
ani(male), Artspace, Johannesburg
Points & Pixels, NSA, Durban
Post – POP, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Cheap Scate, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Oppitafel, Artspace, Johannesburg
Christmas show, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
2005
Group show, AVA, Cape Town
Miniature Art, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
CUBE, CARFAX, Johannesburg
Porn Again, Merely Mortal & gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
Appletiser Art Commission, Studio Gesso, Johannesburg
Smirnoff fridge commission, ATLAS Studios, Johannesburg
Now is the time, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Beelspraak, Exhibition in Die Beeld Newspaper (co-curator with Gordon Froud)
MAN, Rust and Vrede Gallery, Cape Town
Ansisters, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg
When joburg Is Asleep…, Moja Modern Gallery, Johannesburg
Gallery Voir, Brooklyn Square, Pretoria
Artists in Conversation, Pretoria Art Museum, Pretoria
Oppitafel, Artspace, Johannesburg
’Splat’, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
2006
40 x 40 x 40, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
40 x 40 x 40, Melville, Johannesburg
Corpus Colossus with Merwelene van der Merwe and Angus Taylor, gordart Gallery, Melville
Group portrait show, AVA, Cape Town
18 years, Gallery 88, Sasolburg
Chapter one (2003 – 2006), gordart, Snowflake building, AARDKLOP Festival, Potchefstroom
2007
Boerekitch, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
ct24, Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
Grand opening, Off the Wall Gallery, Paarl
Talents, Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
On Paper, Off the Wall Gallery, Paarl
The postcard exhibition, Off the Wall Gallery, Paarl
2008
Rendezvous sculpture exhibition, North-West University, Potchefstroom
Faces and Places, Off the Wall Contemporary, Paarl
The postcard 2 exhibition, Off the Wall Contemporary, Paarl
Centenary Exhibition, University of Pretoria, Pretoria
Masters & Muses, KKNK, Oudtshoorn & iArt Gallery, Cape Town
Substance, Lourensford Estate, Somerset West
Festival of light (four person show), Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
Baring (Curated by Eunice Guestyn), AVA, Cape Town
Ball Sports (Curated by Kirsty Cockerill), AVA, Cape Town
2009
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Spencer Street Studio, Cape Town
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, KKNK Festival, Oudsthoorn
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Rust & Vrede Gallery, Bellville
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Arts Association, Pretoria
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Arts Association, Cape Town
CAPE Printmakers, South African Print Gallery, Cape Town
Dark side of the moon, UCA Gallery, Cape Town
All together now group exhibition, Focus Contemporary,
Cape Town
Group show with Judy Woodborne & Paul Birchal, Rust & Vrede
Gallery, BelLville
Cultivaria 2009 – Offthewall Contemporary Art Gallery - Paarl
Affordable art show – artSPACE Gallery – Durban
2010
EsCape – Arts Association, Pretoria
Untitled – Rust and Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, Cape Town
2011
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Tompson Gallery,
Melville, Johannesburg
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Pandora Art House, Pretoria
Lion Corner exhibition – Observatory, Cape Town
2012
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Strydom Gallery,
George
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek
imprint – David Krut Projects, Montebello Design Centre, Cape Town
Stock – Art and the Animal – The Art Business, Piketberg, Western Cape
Flesh – The Art Business, Piketberg, Western Cape
Beyond Skin – The Art Business, Piketberg, Western Cape
Big Cape Rollers (curated by Gabriel Clark-Brown) – Rust en Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, Cape Town
Kaleidoscope, Alette Wessels Kunskamer, Pretoria
ME3, FRIED Contemporary Art Gallery & Studio, Brooklyn, Pretoria
2013
Angels (I am an African), Gallery at Grande Provence, Franshhoek
ME3 by FRIED Contemporary Art Gallery & Studio, Klein Karoo National Art Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn
No Man Waits for Tom (curated by Gordon Froud), Klein Karoo National Art Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn
Velvet (curated by Christiaan Diedericks), Klein Karoo National Art Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn
Pentimenti (curated by Louis Jansen van Vuuren), Woordfees, Stellenbosch
Engage II, Association for the Visual Arts (Sanava), Pretoria
(Dis)composure (with Vulindlela Nyoni), D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
Alice in Wonderland (curated by Gordon Froud), Art Lovers Gallery, Pretoria
The Morality Monkeys (curated by Aidon Wescott), D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
2014
What Lies Beneath, Equus Gallery, Cavalli Estate, Cape Town
Showcase One, Bayliss Gallery, Norwood, Johannesburg
Solo Exhibitions
1991: Cosmos Gallery - Potchefstroom
Centenary Exhibition, University of Pretoria, Pretoria
Masters & Muses, KKNK, Oudtshoorn & iArt Gallery, Cape Town
Substance, Lourensford Estate, Somerset West
Festival of light (four person show), Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
Baring (Curated by Eunice Guestyn), AVA, Cape Town
Ball Sports (Curated by Kirsty Cockerill), AVA, Cape Town
2009
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Spencer Street Studio, Cape Town
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, KKNK Festival, Oudsthoorn
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Rust & Vrede Gallery, Bellville
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Arts Association, Pretoria
Exquisite Corpse print portfolio, Arts Association, Cape Town
CAPE Printmakers, South African Print Gallery, Cape Town
Dark side of the moon, UCA Gallery, Cape Town
All together now group exhibition, Focus Contemporary,
Cape Town
Group show with Judy Woodborne & Paul Birchal, Rust & Vrede
Gallery, BelLville
Cultivaria 2009 – Offthewall Contemporary Art Gallery - Paarl
Affordable art show – artSPACE Gallery – Durban
2010
EsCape – Arts Association, Pretoria
Untitled – Rust and Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, Cape Town
2011
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Tompson Gallery,
Melville, Johannesburg
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Pandora Art House, Pretoria
Lion Corner exhibition – Observatory, Cape Town
2012
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Strydom Gallery,
George
Altered Pieces (curated by Gordon Froud) – Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek
imprint – David Krut Projects, Montebello Design Centre, Cape Town
Stock – Art and the Animal – The Art Business, Piketberg, Western Cape
Flesh – The Art Business, Piketberg, Western Cape
Beyond Skin – The Art Business, Piketberg, Western Cape
Big Cape Rollers (curated by Gabriel Clark-Brown) – Rust en Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, Cape Town
Kaleidoscope, Alette Wessels Kunskamer, Pretoria
ME3, FRIED Contemporary Art Gallery & Studio, Brooklyn, Pretoria
2013
Angels (I am an African), Gallery at Grande Provence, Franshhoek
ME3 by FRIED Contemporary Art Gallery & Studio, Klein Karoo National Art Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn
No Man Waits for Tom (curated by Gordon Froud), Klein Karoo National Art Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn
Velvet (curated by Christiaan Diedericks), Klein Karoo National Art Festival (KKNK), Oudtshoorn
Pentimenti (curated by Louis Jansen van Vuuren), Woordfees, Stellenbosch
Engage II, Association for the Visual Arts (Sanava), Pretoria
(Dis)composure (with Vulindlela Nyoni), D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
Alice in Wonderland (curated by Gordon Froud), Art Lovers Gallery, Pretoria
The Morality Monkeys (curated by Aidon Wescott), D-Street Gallery, Stellenbosch
2014
What Lies Beneath, Equus Gallery, Cavalli Estate, Cape Town
Showcase One, Bayliss Gallery, Norwood, Johannesburg
Solo Exhibitions
1991: Cosmos Gallery - Potchefstroom
1993: Potchefstroom Museum
1994: Salle Edouart Sandoz - Cité Internationale des Arts - Paris - France
Potchefstroom museum
SAAA - Pretoria
Potchefstroom museum
SAAA - Pretoria
1995: Melville - Johannesburg
Forest Town - Johannesburg
The Visual Art Gallery - Melville
Forest Town - Johannesburg
The Visual Art Gallery - Melville
1996: The Open Window Art Gallery - Pretoria
Potchefstroom Museum
Orange Grove - Johannesburg
Potchefstroom Museum
Orange Grove - Johannesburg
1997: The Open Window Art Gallery - Pretoria
1998: NSA Galleries - Durban
The Visual Art Gallery - Melville
The Visual Art Gallery - Melville
1999: Graceland - Secunda
2000: Brother (masters degree exhibition)- Millennium Gallery – Pretoria
2002: (Dis)obedience: the first Icarus and Pandora dialogue, Merely Mortal, Hyde Park
2003: Bitter Love, artist’s book launch and show at Merely Mortal, Johannesburg
Studio exhibition, Craighall, Johannesburg
Studio exhibition, Craighall, Johannesburg
2005: Mavericks, Magicians & Immortals 1, Moja Modern, Johannesburg
Secrets & Lies: Her majesty’s (ivory) tower, Gesseau Art, Craighall
Secrets & Lies: Her majesty’s (ivory) tower, Gesseau Art, Craighall
2006: Secrets & Lies: Her majesty’s (ivory) tower, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
Crash, Artspace Gallery, Johannesburg
Corpus Colossus, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
Desiderium: Recens cosmicos, KWV Emporium, Cultivaria Festival, Paarl
Selected work, Memories of Zanzibar Gallery, Stonetown, Zanzibar, Tanzania
Crash, Artspace Gallery, Johannesburg
Corpus Colossus, gordart Gallery, Johannesburg
Desiderium: Recens cosmicos, KWV Emporium, Cultivaria Festival, Paarl
Selected work, Memories of Zanzibar Gallery, Stonetown, Zanzibar, Tanzania
2007: The Eye Does Not See Itself, Upstairs at the AVA, Cape Town
2007: Indigo Boy, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
2007: Wings of clay | Feet of light, Gallery 5+5, Brooklyn, NYC (A collaboration with Dianne Heesom-Green)
2007: Indigo Boy, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
2007: Wings of clay | Feet of light, Gallery 5+5, Brooklyn, NYC (A collaboration with Dianne Heesom-Green)
2008: Indigo Boy, Dorpstreet Gallery, Stellenbosch
Small Poison, FRIED Contemporary, Pretoria
Small Poison, FRIED Contemporary, Pretoria
2009: Cold Sweat, Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
Cold Sweat (The graphic works), artSPACE, Durban
Cold Sweat (The graphic works), artSPACE, Durban
2010: Pretending to be Flesh, Focus Contemporary, Cape Town
2011: Balancing Heaven and Earth, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
Inside your body there are flowers (with Lisa Firer), The Haas Collective, Cape Town
Inside your body there are flowers (with Lisa Firer), The Haas Collective, Cape Town
2012: Send in the Clowns, Rust and Vrede Gallery, Durbanville, Cape Town
2012: Planetary Platitudes, SA Print Gallery, Woodstock, Cape Town
2012: Planetary Platitudes, SA Print Gallery, Woodstock, Cape Town
2013: Counterpoint, FRIED Contemporary Art Gallery, Brooklyn, Pretoria
2013: The Wisdom of Dragonflies, NWU Sanlam Auditorium, Potchefstroom, North West Province
2013: Elegy, UJ Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Collections
Potchefstroom Museum - South Africa
NWU, Potchefstroom - South Africa
Ostrobothnian Museum - Vaasa - Finland
Cité Internationale des Arts - Paris - France
Museum of Contemporary Art - Chamalieres - Auvergne - France
SAAA - Head office - Pretoria - South Africa (collection sold)
Biblioteque Nationale - Paris - France
The Robert Loder private collection - Johannesburg - South Africa
Telkom SA LTD - Johannesburg
Investec Bank - Cape Town
Pretoria Technikon - Pretoria
Durban University of Technology
Sasol – Johannesburg
Sasol Group Services – Secunda
Sasol Gas – Johannesburg
Medunarodna Galerija Portreta - Tuzla - Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Muceo Nacional del Grabado - Buenos Aires - Argentina
Durban Art Gallery - Durban
ABSA Bank – Johannesburg
Rand Merchant Bank – Johannesburg
Spier Collection – Stellenbosch
Sanlam Collection – Cape Town
MTN Collection – Johannesburg
Artbank – Johannesburg
The Department of Art and Technology, – Pretoria
New York Public Library print collection, - New York City, USA
Ampersand Foundation studio collection, - New York City
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Gallery 5 + 5, Brooklyn, - New York City
Dept of Science and Technology - CSIR – Pretoria
RMB Academy – Johannesburg
Potchefstroom Gimnasium – Potchefstroom
University of Johannesburg (UJ) – Johannesburg
ATKV – Johannesburg
Frans Masereel Centrum – Kasterlee, Belgium
MOMA (The Museum of Modern Art) – New York City, USA
South African Embassy – Abudja, Nigeria
South African Embassy – Maseru, Lesotho
Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art – NYC, USA
University of Cape Town – Cape Town
La collection de la Biennale internationale d’estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières – Quebec, Canada
The Jack Ginsberg Artist’s Book Collection – Johannesburg
Iziko South African National Gallery– Cape Town
Oorlogsmuseum van die Boererepublieke – Bloemfontein
Cabinet des Estampes et Dessins, The Museum of Beaux-Arts of Liége (BAL) – Liége, Belgium
The Collection of the International Print Triennial - Krakow, Poland
The Collection of the Guanlan International Print Biennial - Guanlan Print Base, Shenzhen, China
Artist’s Books
1995:
I have not forgotten my heart – in the Bibliotheque Nationale’s artist book collection – Paris, France
Natal Technikon print exchange ‘95 - Durban
2013: The Wisdom of Dragonflies, NWU Sanlam Auditorium, Potchefstroom, North West Province
2013: Elegy, UJ Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Collections
Potchefstroom Museum - South Africa
NWU, Potchefstroom - South Africa
Ostrobothnian Museum - Vaasa - Finland
Cité Internationale des Arts - Paris - France
Museum of Contemporary Art - Chamalieres - Auvergne - France
SAAA - Head office - Pretoria - South Africa (collection sold)
Biblioteque Nationale - Paris - France
The Robert Loder private collection - Johannesburg - South Africa
Telkom SA LTD - Johannesburg
Investec Bank - Cape Town
Pretoria Technikon - Pretoria
Durban University of Technology
Sasol – Johannesburg
Sasol Group Services – Secunda
Sasol Gas – Johannesburg
Medunarodna Galerija Portreta - Tuzla - Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Muceo Nacional del Grabado - Buenos Aires - Argentina
Durban Art Gallery - Durban
ABSA Bank – Johannesburg
Rand Merchant Bank – Johannesburg
Spier Collection – Stellenbosch
Sanlam Collection – Cape Town
MTN Collection – Johannesburg
Artbank – Johannesburg
The Department of Art and Technology, – Pretoria
New York Public Library print collection, - New York City, USA
Ampersand Foundation studio collection, - New York City
Johannesburg Art Gallery
Gallery 5 + 5, Brooklyn, - New York City
Dept of Science and Technology - CSIR – Pretoria
RMB Academy – Johannesburg
Potchefstroom Gimnasium – Potchefstroom
University of Johannesburg (UJ) – Johannesburg
ATKV – Johannesburg
Frans Masereel Centrum – Kasterlee, Belgium
MOMA (The Museum of Modern Art) – New York City, USA
South African Embassy – Abudja, Nigeria
South African Embassy – Maseru, Lesotho
Leslie Lohman Museum of Gay and Lesbian Art – NYC, USA
University of Cape Town – Cape Town
La collection de la Biennale internationale d’estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivières – Quebec, Canada
The Jack Ginsberg Artist’s Book Collection – Johannesburg
Iziko South African National Gallery– Cape Town
Oorlogsmuseum van die Boererepublieke – Bloemfontein
Cabinet des Estampes et Dessins, The Museum of Beaux-Arts of Liége (BAL) – Liége, Belgium
The Collection of the International Print Triennial - Krakow, Poland
The Collection of the Guanlan International Print Biennial - Guanlan Print Base, Shenzhen, China
Artist’s Books
1995:
I have not forgotten my heart – in the Bibliotheque Nationale’s artist book collection – Paris, France
Natal Technikon print exchange ‘95 - Durban
1998:
Rhodes University print exchange - Grahamstown
Rhodes University print exchange - Grahamstown
2000:
Address/Redress - Bloemfontein National Museum print
exchange - Bloemfontein
(re)creation - Artist’s portfolio - Johannesburg
Breaking the silence - Artists for human rights portfolio
(gold medal in Geneva 2001) - Durban Technikon
Address/Redress - Bloemfontein National Museum print
exchange - Bloemfontein
(re)creation - Artist’s portfolio - Johannesburg
Breaking the silence - Artists for human rights portfolio
(gold medal in Geneva 2001) - Durban Technikon
2003:
Bitter Love, artist’s book, Johannesburg, - in the collections of Heather Greig (Merely Mortal), Spier wine estate and Jack Ginsberg
Bitter Love, artist’s book, Johannesburg, - in the collections of Heather Greig (Merely Mortal), Spier wine estate and Jack Ginsberg
2004:
Residue, artist’s book, AVA , Cape Town
Residue, artist’s book, AVA , Cape Town
2005:
MTN X10: Ten years of democracy, artist’s portfolio exchange
MTN X10: Ten years of democracy, artist’s portfolio exchange
2006:
Crash – the photographic works, Johannesburg
Crash – the photographic works, Johannesburg
2007:
Gentle wind – artist’s book, New York City
2007:
The little book of secrets – artist’s book, Indigo Boy, in the collection of Richard Berger and Ettienne Koekemoer
Gentle wind – artist’s book, New York City
2007:
The little book of secrets – artist’s book, Indigo Boy, in the collection of Richard Berger and Ettienne Koekemoer
2009:
Exquisite Corpse – print exchange curated by Judy Woodborne, Cape Town, Pretoria, KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn
Cold Sweat – artist’s book, Cape Town - in the collections of Jack Ginsberg (Johannesburg), Spier wine estate (Stellenbosch), Ettienne Koekemoer & Richard Berger (Cape Town) and Adv. André Bezuidenhout (Johannesburg)
Exquisite Corpse – print exchange curated by Judy Woodborne, Cape Town, Pretoria, KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn
Cold Sweat – artist’s book, Cape Town - in the collections of Jack Ginsberg (Johannesburg), Spier wine estate (Stellenbosch), Ettienne Koekemoer & Richard Berger (Cape Town) and Adv. André Bezuidenhout (Johannesburg)
2010:
The Feather Room – mid-career book, Cape Town – with funding from the NAC (with contributing text by Franci Cronjé)
The Feather Room – mid-career book, Cape Town – with funding from the NAC (with contributing text by Franci Cronjé)
2011:
Beautiful World – artist’s book, Cape Town and Belgium – During a three week residency at the Frans masereel Centrum on invitation from the Flemish Government, Belgium
Beautiful World – artist’s book, Cape Town and Belgium – During a three week residency at the Frans masereel Centrum on invitation from the Flemish Government, Belgium
2012:
The Wisdom of Dragonflies – artist’s book, Cape Town - in the collections of Jack Ginsberg (Johannesburg) & Achim Spelling (Cape town/Germany)
Planetary Platitudes – artist’s book, Cape Town - in the collection of Achim Spelling (Cape town/Germany)
Selected Reviews
ANON. 1996. ‘n Meester in ons midde, Tempo ‘95: communication journal of the Vaal Triangle
Technikon:16
ANON. 2004. Residue 2 in Pretoria, Beeld Plus. Saterdag 1 Mei: 4
ANON. 2004. Kyk na vroue wat plesier ervaar, Rapport gauteng Leefstyl. Sondag 24 Oktober: 10
BRODIE, N. 2010. Feather Room a weighty text. Mail &Guardian, Friday November 5-11: 2
DONALDSON, E. 1997. Watch this artist. Style, September: 88-91
DU PLESSIS, W. 2005. Stylloos. DEKAT Man, Somer: 1-3
BOTHA, S. 2005. Onsterflik. DEKAT, Herfs: 118 - 121
COOK, D. 1998. Good work at the NSA. Sunday Tribune: The Other Mag, Sunday 12 April:9
COLLISON, C. 2012. Christiaan Diedericks: planetary platitudes. SA Art Times, October:14-17
COULSON, M. 1998. Reflections of beauty. Financial Mail, October 23
COULSON, M. 2002. Disobedient Wit. Financial Mail, September 13
COULSON, M. 2006. Crash of cultures. Financial Mail, May 19: 110
CRONJé, F. 2006. Reviews: Chris Diedericks and Musha Neluheni. Art South Africa Vol 5.1. Spring: 83
CRONJé, F. 2010. Chris Diedericks se werk soos tydkapsule. Die Burger Saterdag 31 Julie: 18
DONALDSON, A. 1996. The fine art of collecting. Style, April: 40-46
DONALDSON, E. 1997. Watch this artist. Style, September: 88-91
DU PREEZ, A.2000. Anderkant van manwees. Beeld Kalender. Dinsdag 23 Mei: 3
DU PLESSIS, B. 1996. Dié kragtoer transformeer. Beeld Kalender, Vrydag 14 Junie: 6
DU PLESSIS, W. 2005. DEKAT Man: Stylloos. DEKAT, Somer: 83 - 5
DU TOIT, S. 2011. Klein Karoo: art by any other name. The Sunday Independent, April 17: 2
DU TOIT, S. 2012. Haha Said The Clown. The Sunday Independent, May 20
DUVAL, M. 2010. Using art to strip away indifference. Atlantic Sun Thursday October 28: 11
ENGELBRECHT, T. 1997. Kuns oor duik, liefde en suiwering. Beeld Kalender, Donderdag 23 Mei: 2
ERASMUS, S. 2005. Kuns in gesprek oor kreatiwiteit. Beeld Plus, Woensdag 4 Mei: 5
ERASMUS, M. 2001. Chris Diedericks: The thigh of the beholder. Rush, Volume 2 Issue 6: 8-9
GURNEY, K. 2006. Reviews: KKNK 2006. Art South Africa Vol 04 Issue 04. Winter: 70 - 1
JOHNSON, A.. 2002. Encounters of a very different kind. Business Day, Tuesday July 16
LA GRANGE, B. 2006. Preutsstroper trots om Afrikaans te wees. Krit, Saterdag 8 April: 8
LAMBRECHT, B. 2002. Minnaars van die gees, nie van die lyf nie. Beeld, 22 September
LAMBRECHT, B. 2003. Waar veroordeling eindig. Beeld Plus, Donderdag 27 Februarie: 13
LAMBRECHT, B. 2006. Beeldspraak vee skeidslyne in kuns uit. Beeld Plus, Dinsdag 7 Maart: 3
LINDTVELD, A. 2006. Onwaarskynlike engel. Insig, Augustus: 72 - 3
MEIRING, L. 2006. Kunsvonke spat as twee uiterstes ontmoet. Rapport Tydskrif, Sunday 9 April: 10
MYBURG, J. 2005. Diedericks nou ‘mondig’. Beeld Plus, Woensdag 9 November: 9
MYBURG, J. 2004. Gesprek wat ligweg vloei oor grense. Beeld Plus, Donderdag 27 Februarie: 13
MYBURG, J. 2004. Beeldspraak: die wêreld deur die oë van Chris Diedericks. Beeld Plus, Dinsdag 5
April: 2
MYBURG, J. 2005. Eerste stroom-op onsterflikes. Beeld Plus, Woensdag 20 April: 5
MTHIYANE, T. 2006. Chris Diedericks. Contempo 01, April/May: 14
LE ROUX, M. 1995. Anatomie van die liefde. Lantern, November: 67-69
O’CONNOR, M. 1993. Herald kuier by talentvolle kunstenaar. Potchefstroom Herald/Herout, Vrydag
26 November: 6
PALMER, R. 2005. Art Immortalises Artists. Star Tonight. Thursday April 14: 5
PATERSON, T. 2002. At my table. Food and Home, Lente: 56-58
PHILLIPS, F. 1994. Werk van internasionale gehalte. Beeld, Dinsdag 6 Desember
PHILLIPS, F. 1995. SA Kunsman na Parys-ateljee genooi. Beeld Kalender, Vrydag 5 Mei : 4
PHILLIPS, F. 2001. Works explore relationships between abstractions and reality. Pretoria News Interval, Tuesday May 22: 4-5
STEVENS, M. 1996 Technical excellence linked to personal imagery. Vuka, May: 72-75
STEVENS, M. 1996. Works showcase exiting talent. Pretoria News Interval, Tuesday May 28: 3
TAIT, M. 2010. A tangible reality. DEKAT, Spring: 12
TALOTTA, J. 2005. Fame in a frame. Business Day Wanted, November: 43
TALOTTA, J. 2005. Fine Art. Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sunday 24 April: 8-9
VAN BOSCH, C. 2006. Poor venues undermine KKNK art. South African Art Times, May: 4
VAN BOSCH, C. 2010. Beheer en trefkrag oorrompelend. Die Burger Donderdag 25 November: 20
VAN NIEKERK, L. 1997. Diedericks fokus op soeke na identiteit. Beeld Kalender Plus, Vrydag 5
September: 15
VAN NIEKERK, L. 1998. Wanneer is ‘n kunswerk nou werklik ‘n belegging. Beeld Kalender. Donderdag 12 Februarie: 15
VAN ROOYEN, M. 2005. Bekendes kry nuwe status. Die Wêreld: Leefwêreld. Sondag 1 Mei: 31
VENTER, S. 2006. Rooiwarm man: ‘n Kop om in te verdwaal. Rooi Rose. Julie: 178 – 9
VORSTER, E. 2011. Christiaan Diedericks: balancing heaven and earth. SA Art Times. September
Awards, Scholarships, Grants & Residencies
1989:
EVE prize for achievement in painting and graphic design - Potchefstroom University
1990:
Ster Kinekor bursary - Potchefstroom University
First prize for original poetry - Standard Bank campus talent festival - Potchefstroom University
1991:
RB Hagat bursary - Potchefstroom University
August Venter bursary - Potchefstroom University
First prize for original poetry - Standard Bank campus talent festival - Potchefstroom University
1992:
SABS Design Institute Achievers Award - nominee
First prize for fine arts - Standard Bank campus talent festival - Potchefstroom University
1996:
FRD grant for MA(FA) studies at the University of Pretoria
1997:
Department of Art, Culture, Science, and Technology grant for the Sic Transit Gloria Mundi exhibition at The Open Window Art Gallery – Pretoria
1999:
NAC International bursary for workshops in non-toxic printmaking at the Grande Prairie Regional College - Alberta – Canada
2001:
Gold medal for the Breaking the Silence portfolio of prints (27 SA
artists ) at the Human Rights Convention - Geneva – Switzerland
2003:
Top 71, Ekurhuleni fine arts award, Johannesburg
2004:
Top 71, Ekurhuleni fine arts award, Johannesburg
1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2004:
Invited artist in residence at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
2005:
Chosen artist to appear on the 13th “The Apprentice”, SABC3, Johannesburg
2006:
Ampersand Foundation Fellowship - NYC
Kanna Award, best visual artist at the KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn
NAC International bursary, Ampersand Foundation fellowship, NYC
The Wisdom of Dragonflies – artist’s book, Cape Town - in the collections of Jack Ginsberg (Johannesburg) & Achim Spelling (Cape town/Germany)
Planetary Platitudes – artist’s book, Cape Town - in the collection of Achim Spelling (Cape town/Germany)
Selected Reviews
ANON. 1996. ‘n Meester in ons midde, Tempo ‘95: communication journal of the Vaal Triangle
Technikon:16
ANON. 2004. Residue 2 in Pretoria, Beeld Plus. Saterdag 1 Mei: 4
ANON. 2004. Kyk na vroue wat plesier ervaar, Rapport gauteng Leefstyl. Sondag 24 Oktober: 10
BRODIE, N. 2010. Feather Room a weighty text. Mail &Guardian, Friday November 5-11: 2
DONALDSON, E. 1997. Watch this artist. Style, September: 88-91
DU PLESSIS, W. 2005. Stylloos. DEKAT Man, Somer: 1-3
BOTHA, S. 2005. Onsterflik. DEKAT, Herfs: 118 - 121
COOK, D. 1998. Good work at the NSA. Sunday Tribune: The Other Mag, Sunday 12 April:9
COLLISON, C. 2012. Christiaan Diedericks: planetary platitudes. SA Art Times, October:14-17
COULSON, M. 1998. Reflections of beauty. Financial Mail, October 23
COULSON, M. 2002. Disobedient Wit. Financial Mail, September 13
COULSON, M. 2006. Crash of cultures. Financial Mail, May 19: 110
CRONJé, F. 2006. Reviews: Chris Diedericks and Musha Neluheni. Art South Africa Vol 5.1. Spring: 83
CRONJé, F. 2010. Chris Diedericks se werk soos tydkapsule. Die Burger Saterdag 31 Julie: 18
DONALDSON, A. 1996. The fine art of collecting. Style, April: 40-46
DONALDSON, E. 1997. Watch this artist. Style, September: 88-91
DU PREEZ, A.2000. Anderkant van manwees. Beeld Kalender. Dinsdag 23 Mei: 3
DU PLESSIS, B. 1996. Dié kragtoer transformeer. Beeld Kalender, Vrydag 14 Junie: 6
DU PLESSIS, W. 2005. DEKAT Man: Stylloos. DEKAT, Somer: 83 - 5
DU TOIT, S. 2011. Klein Karoo: art by any other name. The Sunday Independent, April 17: 2
DU TOIT, S. 2012. Haha Said The Clown. The Sunday Independent, May 20
DUVAL, M. 2010. Using art to strip away indifference. Atlantic Sun Thursday October 28: 11
ENGELBRECHT, T. 1997. Kuns oor duik, liefde en suiwering. Beeld Kalender, Donderdag 23 Mei: 2
ERASMUS, S. 2005. Kuns in gesprek oor kreatiwiteit. Beeld Plus, Woensdag 4 Mei: 5
ERASMUS, M. 2001. Chris Diedericks: The thigh of the beholder. Rush, Volume 2 Issue 6: 8-9
GURNEY, K. 2006. Reviews: KKNK 2006. Art South Africa Vol 04 Issue 04. Winter: 70 - 1
JOHNSON, A.. 2002. Encounters of a very different kind. Business Day, Tuesday July 16
LA GRANGE, B. 2006. Preutsstroper trots om Afrikaans te wees. Krit, Saterdag 8 April: 8
LAMBRECHT, B. 2002. Minnaars van die gees, nie van die lyf nie. Beeld, 22 September
LAMBRECHT, B. 2003. Waar veroordeling eindig. Beeld Plus, Donderdag 27 Februarie: 13
LAMBRECHT, B. 2006. Beeldspraak vee skeidslyne in kuns uit. Beeld Plus, Dinsdag 7 Maart: 3
LINDTVELD, A. 2006. Onwaarskynlike engel. Insig, Augustus: 72 - 3
MEIRING, L. 2006. Kunsvonke spat as twee uiterstes ontmoet. Rapport Tydskrif, Sunday 9 April: 10
MYBURG, J. 2005. Diedericks nou ‘mondig’. Beeld Plus, Woensdag 9 November: 9
MYBURG, J. 2004. Gesprek wat ligweg vloei oor grense. Beeld Plus, Donderdag 27 Februarie: 13
MYBURG, J. 2004. Beeldspraak: die wêreld deur die oë van Chris Diedericks. Beeld Plus, Dinsdag 5
April: 2
MYBURG, J. 2005. Eerste stroom-op onsterflikes. Beeld Plus, Woensdag 20 April: 5
MTHIYANE, T. 2006. Chris Diedericks. Contempo 01, April/May: 14
LE ROUX, M. 1995. Anatomie van die liefde. Lantern, November: 67-69
O’CONNOR, M. 1993. Herald kuier by talentvolle kunstenaar. Potchefstroom Herald/Herout, Vrydag
26 November: 6
PALMER, R. 2005. Art Immortalises Artists. Star Tonight. Thursday April 14: 5
PATERSON, T. 2002. At my table. Food and Home, Lente: 56-58
PHILLIPS, F. 1994. Werk van internasionale gehalte. Beeld, Dinsdag 6 Desember
PHILLIPS, F. 1995. SA Kunsman na Parys-ateljee genooi. Beeld Kalender, Vrydag 5 Mei : 4
PHILLIPS, F. 2001. Works explore relationships between abstractions and reality. Pretoria News Interval, Tuesday May 22: 4-5
STEVENS, M. 1996 Technical excellence linked to personal imagery. Vuka, May: 72-75
STEVENS, M. 1996. Works showcase exiting talent. Pretoria News Interval, Tuesday May 28: 3
TAIT, M. 2010. A tangible reality. DEKAT, Spring: 12
TALOTTA, J. 2005. Fame in a frame. Business Day Wanted, November: 43
TALOTTA, J. 2005. Fine Art. Sunday Times Lifestyle, Sunday 24 April: 8-9
VAN BOSCH, C. 2006. Poor venues undermine KKNK art. South African Art Times, May: 4
VAN BOSCH, C. 2010. Beheer en trefkrag oorrompelend. Die Burger Donderdag 25 November: 20
VAN NIEKERK, L. 1997. Diedericks fokus op soeke na identiteit. Beeld Kalender Plus, Vrydag 5
September: 15
VAN NIEKERK, L. 1998. Wanneer is ‘n kunswerk nou werklik ‘n belegging. Beeld Kalender. Donderdag 12 Februarie: 15
VAN ROOYEN, M. 2005. Bekendes kry nuwe status. Die Wêreld: Leefwêreld. Sondag 1 Mei: 31
VENTER, S. 2006. Rooiwarm man: ‘n Kop om in te verdwaal. Rooi Rose. Julie: 178 – 9
VORSTER, E. 2011. Christiaan Diedericks: balancing heaven and earth. SA Art Times. September
Awards, Scholarships, Grants & Residencies
1989:
EVE prize for achievement in painting and graphic design - Potchefstroom University
1990:
Ster Kinekor bursary - Potchefstroom University
First prize for original poetry - Standard Bank campus talent festival - Potchefstroom University
1991:
RB Hagat bursary - Potchefstroom University
August Venter bursary - Potchefstroom University
First prize for original poetry - Standard Bank campus talent festival - Potchefstroom University
1992:
SABS Design Institute Achievers Award - nominee
First prize for fine arts - Standard Bank campus talent festival - Potchefstroom University
1996:
FRD grant for MA(FA) studies at the University of Pretoria
1997:
Department of Art, Culture, Science, and Technology grant for the Sic Transit Gloria Mundi exhibition at The Open Window Art Gallery – Pretoria
1999:
NAC International bursary for workshops in non-toxic printmaking at the Grande Prairie Regional College - Alberta – Canada
2001:
Gold medal for the Breaking the Silence portfolio of prints (27 SA
artists ) at the Human Rights Convention - Geneva – Switzerland
2003:
Top 71, Ekurhuleni fine arts award, Johannesburg
2004:
Top 71, Ekurhuleni fine arts award, Johannesburg
1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2004:
Invited artist in residence at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
2005:
Chosen artist to appear on the 13th “The Apprentice”, SABC3, Johannesburg
2006:
Ampersand Foundation Fellowship - NYC
Kanna Award, best visual artist at the KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn
NAC International bursary, Ampersand Foundation fellowship, NYC
2007:
Invited curator: Flesh! @ KKNK, Oudtshoorn
2009:
NAC grant for a published book of own mid-career work – The Feather Room (preparation)
2010:
Invited artist in residence - Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
2011:
Invited artist in residence - Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
Invited artist in residence at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
Invited curator: Flesh! @ KKNK, Oudtshoorn
2009:
NAC grant for a published book of own mid-career work – The Feather Room (preparation)
2010:
Invited artist in residence - Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
2011:
Invited artist in residence - Frans Masereel Centrum, Kasterlee, Belgium
Invited artist in residence at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France
2012:
Invited artist in residence (APS at JAG 2012) – Artist’s Proof Studio, Newtown, Johannesburg
Invited artist in residence – Halka Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
Invited artist in residence – Venice Printmaking Studio Studio, Venice, Italy
2013:
Invited artist in residence – Il Bisonte International School for Printmaking, Florence, Italy
Invited artist in residence at the Mosan Art Museum – 11th International Cultural Art Symposium, South Korea (with 50 other international artists)
2014:
Invited artist in residence – The Guanlan International Print Base, Shenzhen, China
References
Gordon Froud – Prominent SA artist and lecturer at The University of Johannesburg
Tel: 0844238635
Email: gordon@gordartgallery.com
Annali Cabano-Dempsey – Curator University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
Tel: 0824672775
Email: aedempsey@uj.ac.za
Dr Eugene Vorster – Psychiatrist ancient cultures student and art-collector, Cape Town
Tel: 0832732000
Email: genie64@mweb.co.za
Franci Cronjé – PhD – Academic Head at Vega, Cape Town Tel: 0825573647
Email: franci.cronje@gmail.com
Stefan Hundt – curator, Sanlam Collection, Cape Town
Tel: 0834572699
Email: stefan.hundt@sanlam.co.za
Jack Ginsberg, Art collector, Johannesburg
Tel: 0116468279 OR 0116706515
Email: JACKG@cjpetrow.co.za
Artist’s Statement
My most recent work investigates Dystopia and the dystopian world we live in, but still mostly within the context of gender, sexuality, masculinity and body-politics. The ongoing importance of the above is urgently illustrated by the current debate about the controversial The Spear painting by South African artist Brett Murray. The current South African political landscape is a playing field for such critical academic artists. A relation of Vanitas in my images to the larger concept of Dystopia is explored in most of my works and specifically in terms of mortality, ageing, decay and ‘emptiness’. I do however admit to the fact that vanity and an ongoing interest in our outer appearance may be as old as humankind – it is evident even in Greek and Roman mythology and the legend of Narcissus (and Echo) may be the most widely known myth.
A fascination with "what lies beneath" is evident in my work and human skulls a sly criticism about the beauty and fashion industry still feeding uninformed individuals with lies and pretence. Under the skin all humans basically "look the same". We pose the same “ugly” skulls; sometimes even with a few teeth missing when we die. Why are we so obsessed with youth and terrified of growing old, and for how long will people and especially women faithfully subscribe to contemporary beauty myths still occupying so much of our thinking and behaviour? Humans spend millions annually on Botox, plastic surgery and other cosmetic “enhancements”. Traditionally a female driving force, more and more men subscribe to the same beauty myths today. Are we desperately unhappy in our own skins and so alarmingly afraid of growing old and eventually dying – our mortality?
On a secondary level my work also deals with the Shadow Self as opposed to Ego-consciousness based on the work of especially psychoanalyst Carl Jung. According to Jung most people are often afraid of their Real- or Shadow Selves and wear masks daily due to peer pressure and an ingrained fear of ridicule, and "not being good enough".
Most people wear these masks to enable them to "fit into” society and are terrified of simply accepting personal "mistakes and flaws". Humans are made to believe by popular beauty magazines that old age is simply ugly and undesirable and we do everything in our power to rid ourselves of any signs of ageing. Very recently, in a popular television series Private Practice a female character sadly states, "old people scare her". This is the psychological dystopia of lies, pretence and "plastic existence" we have created as a so-called “advanced” species.
As an artist I am fascinated by “real” people, people without the constant need to "enhance" their outer appearance - to the point of becoming "freaks" or “clowns”; individuals with a true authentic self at the core. Furthermore, the beauty industry literally steals millions from people daily by making them believe that they are not "good enough", that they need to "enhance" the way they look. This industry keeps the Beauty Myth alive. According to gender theorist Naomi Wolf “the basic premise of the Beauty Myth is that forced adherence to standards of physical beauty has grown stronger for women as they gained power in other societal arenas”. Wolf argues “this standard of beauty has taken over the work of social coercion formerly left to myths about motherhood, domesticity, chastity, and passivity, all of which have been used to keep women powerless. In the author’s view, “the gaunt, youthful model [has] supplanted the happy housewife as the arbiter of successful womanhood.” The myth of beauty spreads the belief that an objective measurement of beauty exists, and that woman must want to embody it, and that men must want such women.
However, Wolf contends, “the beauty myth is really not about women, it is about men’s institutions and power. Beauty is about behaviour, not appearance. The qualities labelled ‘beautiful’ in women in any given time period are no more than symbols of female behaviour considered desirable at that time. Besides weakening women psychologically, the beauty myth feeds a multibillion-dollar cosmetics industry, and keeps women from rising too high in the workplace by offering a way around antidiscrimination laws.” The latter in many human beings creates a vast array of psychological ills. The power of popular media is immense today, especially in a world inhabited by non-critical individuals.
In my work, time and space appear to dissolve, and an air of conflict erupts. This is often a direct result of a personal aim to calm and disturb at the same time - drawing parallels between the two extremes of utopia and dystopia. There is always a secondary narrative in my work. The primary narrative has symbolic authority and aesthetic promise, although the mysterious secondary narrative exists in order to provoke thought in the viewer.
In many ways I aim to ‘rewrite’ history in my work and the dominant sense of self-awareness that informs most Western art practices. I am trying to present contemporary issues such as Difference as timeless, by situating my vocabulary of images and themes in an organic flux of dreams, history, news, commercial detritus, hyper-reality, and unvoiced feelings and forces of biological nature/desire.
Christiaan Diedericks
June 2013
Invited artist in residence (APS at JAG 2012) – Artist’s Proof Studio, Newtown, Johannesburg
Invited artist in residence – Halka Art Project, Istanbul, Turkey
Invited artist in residence – Venice Printmaking Studio Studio, Venice, Italy
2013:
Invited artist in residence – Il Bisonte International School for Printmaking, Florence, Italy
Invited artist in residence at the Mosan Art Museum – 11th International Cultural Art Symposium, South Korea (with 50 other international artists)
2014:
Invited artist in residence – The Guanlan International Print Base, Shenzhen, China
References
Gordon Froud – Prominent SA artist and lecturer at The University of Johannesburg
Tel: 0844238635
Email: gordon@gordartgallery.com
Annali Cabano-Dempsey – Curator University of Johannesburg Art Gallery
Tel: 0824672775
Email: aedempsey@uj.ac.za
Dr Eugene Vorster – Psychiatrist ancient cultures student and art-collector, Cape Town
Tel: 0832732000
Email: genie64@mweb.co.za
Franci Cronjé – PhD – Academic Head at Vega, Cape Town Tel: 0825573647
Email: franci.cronje@gmail.com
Stefan Hundt – curator, Sanlam Collection, Cape Town
Tel: 0834572699
Email: stefan.hundt@sanlam.co.za
Jack Ginsberg, Art collector, Johannesburg
Tel: 0116468279 OR 0116706515
Email: JACKG@cjpetrow.co.za
Artist’s Statement
My most recent work investigates Dystopia and the dystopian world we live in, but still mostly within the context of gender, sexuality, masculinity and body-politics. The ongoing importance of the above is urgently illustrated by the current debate about the controversial The Spear painting by South African artist Brett Murray. The current South African political landscape is a playing field for such critical academic artists. A relation of Vanitas in my images to the larger concept of Dystopia is explored in most of my works and specifically in terms of mortality, ageing, decay and ‘emptiness’. I do however admit to the fact that vanity and an ongoing interest in our outer appearance may be as old as humankind – it is evident even in Greek and Roman mythology and the legend of Narcissus (and Echo) may be the most widely known myth.
A fascination with "what lies beneath" is evident in my work and human skulls a sly criticism about the beauty and fashion industry still feeding uninformed individuals with lies and pretence. Under the skin all humans basically "look the same". We pose the same “ugly” skulls; sometimes even with a few teeth missing when we die. Why are we so obsessed with youth and terrified of growing old, and for how long will people and especially women faithfully subscribe to contemporary beauty myths still occupying so much of our thinking and behaviour? Humans spend millions annually on Botox, plastic surgery and other cosmetic “enhancements”. Traditionally a female driving force, more and more men subscribe to the same beauty myths today. Are we desperately unhappy in our own skins and so alarmingly afraid of growing old and eventually dying – our mortality?
On a secondary level my work also deals with the Shadow Self as opposed to Ego-consciousness based on the work of especially psychoanalyst Carl Jung. According to Jung most people are often afraid of their Real- or Shadow Selves and wear masks daily due to peer pressure and an ingrained fear of ridicule, and "not being good enough".
Most people wear these masks to enable them to "fit into” society and are terrified of simply accepting personal "mistakes and flaws". Humans are made to believe by popular beauty magazines that old age is simply ugly and undesirable and we do everything in our power to rid ourselves of any signs of ageing. Very recently, in a popular television series Private Practice a female character sadly states, "old people scare her". This is the psychological dystopia of lies, pretence and "plastic existence" we have created as a so-called “advanced” species.
As an artist I am fascinated by “real” people, people without the constant need to "enhance" their outer appearance - to the point of becoming "freaks" or “clowns”; individuals with a true authentic self at the core. Furthermore, the beauty industry literally steals millions from people daily by making them believe that they are not "good enough", that they need to "enhance" the way they look. This industry keeps the Beauty Myth alive. According to gender theorist Naomi Wolf “the basic premise of the Beauty Myth is that forced adherence to standards of physical beauty has grown stronger for women as they gained power in other societal arenas”. Wolf argues “this standard of beauty has taken over the work of social coercion formerly left to myths about motherhood, domesticity, chastity, and passivity, all of which have been used to keep women powerless. In the author’s view, “the gaunt, youthful model [has] supplanted the happy housewife as the arbiter of successful womanhood.” The myth of beauty spreads the belief that an objective measurement of beauty exists, and that woman must want to embody it, and that men must want such women.
However, Wolf contends, “the beauty myth is really not about women, it is about men’s institutions and power. Beauty is about behaviour, not appearance. The qualities labelled ‘beautiful’ in women in any given time period are no more than symbols of female behaviour considered desirable at that time. Besides weakening women psychologically, the beauty myth feeds a multibillion-dollar cosmetics industry, and keeps women from rising too high in the workplace by offering a way around antidiscrimination laws.” The latter in many human beings creates a vast array of psychological ills. The power of popular media is immense today, especially in a world inhabited by non-critical individuals.
In my work, time and space appear to dissolve, and an air of conflict erupts. This is often a direct result of a personal aim to calm and disturb at the same time - drawing parallels between the two extremes of utopia and dystopia. There is always a secondary narrative in my work. The primary narrative has symbolic authority and aesthetic promise, although the mysterious secondary narrative exists in order to provoke thought in the viewer.
In many ways I aim to ‘rewrite’ history in my work and the dominant sense of self-awareness that informs most Western art practices. I am trying to present contemporary issues such as Difference as timeless, by situating my vocabulary of images and themes in an organic flux of dreams, history, news, commercial detritus, hyper-reality, and unvoiced feelings and forces of biological nature/desire.
Christiaan Diedericks
June 2013