Which artists, books or music have inspired your work?
Kyoko Kimura Morgan - local artist, sculptor, origamists
Hanoch Piven - resistance art - collage style
Frode Bolhuis - Dutch sculptor - his use of colour
Which South African deceased artist do you most admire and why?
Walter Battiss - his whimsical elongated figures are bold, simple (I like bold and simple)- feel raw and energetic - his unusual colour palettes are intriguing.
If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
A sculpture by Frode Bolhuis
Pick three artists who you would be honored to exhibit with – and why.
Laurel Homes -living in Cape Town I relate to her works and inspiration.
Kyoko Kimura Morgan - respect her ceramics/origami - her openness to sharing her art.
Liz Vels - her sculptural techniques are diverse - multi medium work is fascinating.
How did you get started? Did you always want to be an artist?
Always been creating - more from a design side.
What are some of the key themes you explore in your work?
The Herd of Strange Things - an anthropomorphic expression of the world around me - exploring different personalities, human quirks - I like to include a dialogue expressed in tattoos, fabric pattern - I paint with various glazes in a “water colour” style - painting and rubbing to create a more worn texture - adding a line work using a ceramic pencil.
What should people know about your art that they can’t tell from looking at it?
I like to find the joy in the quirky little things - looking for that smile, a moment to feel innocence. It makes me happy to create and I would like the viewer to feel that.
What are the most essential items in you studio and why?
A clean work surface, good music - the tools and materials can vary.
Tell us more about your creative process.
With the Herd of Strange Things - Concept process is important - I spend time gathering my thoughts and influences, focusing on what subtle message, feelings I want my creature to voice. I then start on the physical creating.
Do you believe an artist should use their platform to influence society? Why?
Yes - engaging in original art has never had more value (in my eyes) - as the world turns more and more to AI - the gift of creating by hand is a privilege, the one off emotional connection will be even more craved.
Do you have a favourite or most meaningful work?
I created a figure I named ”Wonder” (half antelope half man)- who carried a poem by Lemn Sissay - “Said the Heart to the Head we have more in common than sets us apart” I placed in on a wall in Woodstock where children / teens would pass on their way to school - my hope was that they would find it and take it home… I came back a week later and it was gone - this gave me joy and I hoped they would have been excited to have found him.
What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?
I’ve won design awards over my career but never entered anything into the art world - this is the beginning.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I would like to do more ceramic street art as mentioned in my work “the wonder” above. I would like to explore other medium - other ways to comment on the world around me.
