aspects of abstraction ii -...
TRANSCRIPT
Aspects of Abstract ion I I21 May to 25 June 2016
F I N E A R T
johans borman
Te l . +27 (0 )21 683 6863 E-mai l : a r t@ johansborman.co.za Webs i te : www. johansborman.co.za
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Aspects of Abstraction II
Modernism rapidly transformed the art landscape of the early twentieth century through avant-garde movements such as Cubism, Expressionism, Dadaism, Surrealism and Abstract Ex-pressionism. Enthused by the rapid industrial and technological advances experienced all over Europe at the time, artists developed innovative conceptual ideologies in their quest to address questions about the nature of art and the human experience. Paramount to eve-ry one of these pioneer artists, was the existentialist exploration of his or her individual vision.
Looking back over more than a century of rejected realism, one is struck by the intricate abstract styles which evolved to celebrate the beauty, and comment on the complexity, of our world. The search for perfection through abstraction has inspired artists to dissect the relationship between the real and the imagined. This philosophy is something ethereal, intangible and labyrinthine; the art-ist’s search for the Ideal – a concept which will communicate the essence of its subject; the truth.
Transforming, and not imitating, reality is what great artists strive to achieve. Picasso and Braque, in-spired by Cezanne’s use of multiple viewpoints in his last works, developed this concept into Cubism – the twentieth century’s most famous example of abstraction. While Cubism still referred to outside subject matter, Kandinsky produced work which had no reference to any physical reality – generally referred to today as “non-figurative abstract” art, which is actually a misnomer as there is no physical reference which can be “abstracted”. Bridget Riley’s silkscreens of linear bands of colour are a prime example of “pure” or “non-figurative” abstraction, as they rely entirely on the relationships between colours, and the fact that the same colours related in different ways can have a different range of effects.
The influence of Abstraction on South African art originated primarily in Paris. Through the teachings of André Lhote and Fernand Legér, many young South African artists who studied in Paris after WWII were introduced to abstraction in terms of the broader conceptual principles regarding composition, line, form and colour. These influences were adopted, and often Africanised, by artists such as Maud Sumner, Erik Laubscher, Eugene Labuschagne, Anna Vorster, Paul du Toit and Christo Coetzee.
The unique aspect of the development of South African abstract art was the influence of our indigenous rock art, as well as the motifs and decorative patterns used by the Nguni people. These influences resulted in the authentic and unique characteristics of works produced by artists such as Walter Bat-tiss, Alexis Preller, Edoardo Villa, Cecil Skotnes and Lucky Sibiya; thus adding another brilliant facet to our local art history. Unlike their European counterparts who appropriated the sculptural qualities of masks and totems of Central and West Africa in their works, the influence of indigenous imagery and design posed no ethical dilemma for African artists, as these references formed part of their heritage.
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Abstract Expressionism initially emerged in New York just after WWII. Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko were among its pioneers, and Willem de Kooning was one of the prominent Eu-ropean artists to contribute to its development. The general objective in most of these art-ists’ work was to restore art and society after WWII. Artists such as Pollock used Action Paint-ing, an intuitive and expressive technique whereby paint is thrown and dripped onto canvas to capture ‘symbols of universal meaning’, a philosophy promoted by Jung. Rothko invented Col-our Field Painting, filling his canvases with ‘fields’ of luminous and broody colours to evoke the psychic energy of contemplation. Elements of abstract expressionism are evident in the works of South African artists such as Douglas Portway, Louis Maqubela and Ephraim Ngatane.
One of the ironies of the art world is that any artist’s success, generally measured in finan-cial terms and therefore determined by sales, is more or less determined by buyers who are of-ten the least qualified to judge the work. In the South African scenario, this was one of the biggest stumbling blocks for the avant-garde artists of the post-war era when they tried to in-troduce abstracted imagery to a conservative and largely uninformed public. The local resist-ance to abstract art, and the cultural isolation brought about by the political situation, meant that very few of the artists from this era were able to make a living from their sales. This makes their achievements in terms of producing unique and innovative works all the greater.
The group of works assembled for this exhibition covers many different facets of abstrac-tion. The criteria applied for the selection of works have been based on abstraction in the broader sense, focusing more on the conceptual than the technical aspects of the work.
Our objective with this exhibition is to contribute to the ongoing exploration and re-discovery of artistic endeavors by brave artists. Interacting with these artworks should help inform our understanding of the developments that shape art history and our appreciation of the visionary artists who extend the boundries of our perception.
Johans BormanMay 2016Cape Town
Owusu Ankomah(b 1956)
Microcron Kusum No 22011
Acrylic on canvas140 x 170 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
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Cecil Skotnes(b 1926 - 2009)
Composition from passages through an alien land1981
Oil on board29 x 38,5 cm
Signed bottom middle
page 5
Walter Battiss(b 1906 - 1982)
Fruit sellers in the sun
Oil on canvas40,5 x 45,5 cm
Signed bottom left
page 6
Cecil Skotnes(b 1926 - 2009)
Head
Carved, incised and painted wood panel76 x 102 cm
Signed top right
page 7
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Interlude2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas152 x 122 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 8
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Still life with lemons2016
Oil on canvas90 x 83,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 9
Hennie Niemann Jnr(b 1972)
The musician2016
Oil on canvas89,5 x 60 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 10
Simon Stone(b 1952)
Red painting with dancing nude2015
Oil on canvas on board38,5 x 33,5 cm
Signed bottom right
page 11
Walter Battiss(b 1906 - 1982)
Houses in Zanzibar
Oil on canvas30 x 40,5 cm
Signed bottom right
page 12
Erik Laubcher(b 1927 - 2013)
Overberg No. 11965
Acrylic on board73 x 121,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 13
Peter Clarke(b 1929 - 2014)
Donga along Misrydrift1960
Gouache20 x 25,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 14
Pranas Domsaitis(b 1880 - 1965)
Three sisters, Karoo
Oil on board35,5 x 54,5 cm
Signed bottom right
page 15
Ephraim Ngatane(1938 - 1971)
Township scene1964
Ink, pen, pastel and watercolour on paper37 x 54 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 16
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Alchemy2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas152 x 122 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 17
Anthony Lane(b 1961)
Introspection (Continuum series)2016
Stainless steel - Edition of 943,5 x 71 x 63 cm
R39 000
page 18
Lars Fischedick(b 1968)
White Orb2015
Enamel on woodDiameter 113 cm
Signed and dated verso
page 19
Anthony Lane(b 1961)
Repose (Continuum series)2016
Stainless steel - Edition of 944 x 83 x 72 cm
R39 000
page 20
Lars Fischedick(b 1968)
Mastaba (Eternal house)2016
Acrylic, wood and resin102 x 121,5 cm
Signed, titled and dated on the back
page 21
Anthony Lane(b 1961)
The bather (Origami series)2016
Stainless steel - Edition of 988 x 117 x 211 cm
Signed, dated and editioned at the foot
page 22
Lars Fischedick(b 1968)
Dreiseiten Blau2015
Acrylic on wood150 x 104,5 cm
Signed and dated verso
page 23
Anthony Lane(b 1961)
Reclining man (Origami series)2016
Stainless steel - Edition of 988 x 117 x 211 cm
Signed, dated and editioned on the foot
page 24
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL5
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 60,5 cm
R15 700
page 25
Anton Chapman(b 1958)
Romance2009
Oil on canvas30,5 x 90 cm
Signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas
page 26
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL4
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 49,5 cm
R15 700
page 27
Nigel Mullins(b 1969)
Hopeful monsters2001
Oil on canvas180 x 180 cm
Signed, titled and dated verso
page 28
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL7
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 71 cm
R19 700
page 29
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Spring Fair2015
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 30
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL6
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 70 cm
R15 700
page 31
Hussein Salim(b 1966)
Sahara love2016
Acrylic on canvas120 x 150 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 32
Dumile Feni(1942 - 1991)
Anguished womanc1968Bronze
Height: 26 cmSigned and dated bottom right
page 33
Hussein Salim(b 1966)
Eshrag (brightness)2016
Acrylic on canvas120 x 150 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 34
Edoardo Villa(1915 - 2011)
Standing figure1964
Bronze - Edition 4 of 6Height: 48 cm
Signed, editioned and dated bottom
page 35
Hussein Salim(b 1966)
Symbols2016
Acrylic on canvas120 x 150 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 36
Edoardo Villa(1915 - 2011)
Head1996
Bronze - Edition 4 of 6Height: 29,5 cm
Signed, editioned and dated bottom
page 37
Hussein Salim(b 1966)
Joy2016
Acrylic on canvas120 x 150 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 38
Hennie Niemann Jnr(b 1972)
The reunion2015
Oil on canvas59,5 x 45 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 39
Cecil Skotnes(b 1926 - 2009)
Head and figure
Carved, incised and painted wood panel58 x 45 cm
Signed bottom left
page 40
Ezrom Legae(b 1938 - 1999)
Head of a childca. 1967Bronze
Height 26 cm
page 41
Owusu Ankomah(b 1956)
Prelude to the Microcron No 62010
Acrylic on canvas40 x 30 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 42
Cecil Skotnes(b 1926 - 2009)
Ancestral spirits
Carved, incised and painted wood panel60 x 62,5 cm
Signed bottom middle
page 43
Simon Stone(b 1952)
Man on stoep
Oil on cardboard32 x 13 cm
Signed top left
page 44
Walter Battiss(b 1906 - 1982)
Banana Boy
Silkscreen on paper - Edition 4/30Paper size 44,5 x 63,5 cm
Signed bottom left
page 45
Giovanna Biallo(b 1954)
Wall of forever2015
Oil on canvas41,5 x 51 cm
Signed bottom right
page 46
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL1
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 42 cm
page 47
Bridget Riley(b 1931)
‘Ra (Inverted)’2009 - 1981
Silkscreen on paper - Edition 56/85135,5 x 113,5 cm
Titled, numbered, signed and dated in the margin
page 48
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL3
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 56,5 cm
R15 700
page 49
Anton Chapman(b 1958)
Found2013
Oil on canvas30 x 80 cm
Signed and dated on the stretcher frame
page 50
Louise Linder(b 1960)
LL2
Vitrified stonewareHeight: 70,5 cm
page 51
Giovanna Biallo(b 1954)
Rare Earth2015
Gouache51,5 x 34,5 cm
Signed bottom right
page 52
Anthony Lane(b 1961)
Reclining (Origami series)2015
Stainless steel - Edition of 988 x 117 x 211 cm
Signed, dated and editioned at the bottom
page 53
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Synchro-city V2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas145,5 x 180 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 54
Wehrner Lemmer(b 1963)
Le Blanc
Spraypainted mild steelHeight: 207 cm
page 55
Lars Fischedick(b 1968)
Flight of two swallows2015
Acrylic on wood99 x 112 cm
Signed and dated verso
page 56
Owusu Ankomah(b 1956)
Prelude to the Microcron No 192010
Acrylic on canvas90 x 100 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 57
Wehrner Lemmer(b 1963)
Cappuccino
Spraypainted mild steelHeight: 175,5 cm
page 58
Anthony Lane(b 1961)
Lolita (Origami series)2015
Stainless steel - Edition of 988 x 117 x 211 cm
Signed, dated and editioned at the bottom
page 59
Gavin Rain(b 1971)
The chairman2014
Acrylic on canvas120 x 120 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 60
Hennie Niemann Jnr(b 1972)
The couple2016
Oil on canvas61 x 60 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 61
Cecil Skotnes(b 1926 - 2009)
Reclining figure and portrait
Carved, incised and painted wood panel45 x 61 cm
Signed bottom right
page 62
Hussein Salim(b 1966)
My people II2008
Acrylic and collage on canvas169,5 x 170,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 63
Georgina Gratrix(b 1982)
Young girl2010
Watercolour69,5 x 49,5 cm
Certificate of authenticity
page 64
Robert Slingsby(b 1955)
Common ground2000
Oil on canvas67 x 87 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 65
Susqya Williams(b 1939)
Portrait of a landscape III2013
Hand-woven tapestry123 x 108 cm cm
page 66
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Etude VI April 20142014
Oil on canvas20 x 20 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 67
Lars Fischedick(b 1968)
Geometric IV2015
Acrylic on wood40 x 40 cm
Signed and dated verso
page 68
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Etude VII April 20142014
Oil on canvas20 x 20 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 69
Warrick Kemp(b 1968)
Bull & Bear2014
Bronze - Edition of 9Height 30 cm
Signed and editioned at bottom
page 70
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Etude V April 20142014
Oil on canvas20 x 20 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 71
Lynn Russel Chadwick(1914 - 2003)
Miniature Figure II1986
Bronze 9/30Height: 7.5 cm
Signed and editioned on the bottom
page 72
Lynn Russel Chadwick(1914 - 2003)
Miniature Figure III1986
Bronze 10/30Height: 9 cm
Signed and editioned on the bottom
page 73
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Synchro-city II2015
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas145,5 x 180 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 74
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Still life2016
Oil on canvas35 x 30 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 75
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Awakening2015
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 76
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Cellist2015
Oil on canvas50 x 50 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 77
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Synchro-city IX2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 78
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Etude II April 20142014
Oil on canvas20 x 20 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 79
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Synchro-city VIII2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 80
Wehrner Lemmer(b 1963)
Blue/Orange
Spraypainted mild steelHeight: 144 cm
page 81
Anton Chapman(b 1958)
Comet2013
Oil on canvas30 x 30 cm
Signed and dated on the stretcher frame
page 82
Lars Fischedick(b 1968)
Across2015
Acrylic and lacquer on wood126 x 45 cm
Signed and dated on the side
page 83
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Neon Buzz I2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 84
Anton Chapman(b 1958)
Entrance2010
Oil on canvas30,5 x 90 cm
Signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas
page 85
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Neon Buzz II2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 86
Anton Chapman(b 1958)
Pastoral2009
Oil on canvas30,5 x 90 cm
Signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas
page 87
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Night Noise I2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas152 x 122 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 88
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Guardian2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 89
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Night Noise II2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas152 x 122 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 90
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Synchro-city VII2016
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 91
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Etude III May 20142014
Oil on canvas20 x 20 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 92
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Companions2015
Acrylic and mixed media on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 93
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Etude IV April 20142014
Oil on canvas20 x 20 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 94
Lucky Sibiya(b 1942 - 1999)
Abstract
Carved, incised and painted wood panel61 x 91 cm
Signed bottom right
page 95
Sydney Kumalo(b 1935 - 1988)
God sent the lizard1973
Pastel on paper56 x 76 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 96
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Breekwater September 20142014
Oil on canvas (pentaptych)20 x 100 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 97
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Zora’s Terrace - Homage to Matisse2015
Oil on canvas35 x 30 cm
Signed and dated bottom left
page 98
Marlene von Dürckheim(b 1945)
Variations I - Window with balcony’2015
Oil on canvas35 x 30 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 99
Georgia Lane(b 1960)
Metro Pulse I2015
Acrylic on canvas127 x 101,5 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 100
Anton Chapman(b 1958)
Transition2013
Acrylic on canvas30 x 80 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
page 101