Aspects of Abstraction II

Transcription

1 Aspects of Abstraction II 21 May to 25 June 2016 johans borman F I N E A R T Tel. +27 (0) art@johansborman.co.za Website:

2 Aspects of Abstraction II Modernism rapidly transformed the art landscape of the early twentieth century through avantgarde movements such as Cubism, Expressionism, Dadaism, Surrealism and Abstract Expressionism. 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 every 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 artist 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, inspired 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 Battiss, 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. page 2

3 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 European artists to contribute to its development. The general objective in most of these artists work was to restore art and society after WWII. Artists such as Pollock used Action Painting, 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 Colour 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 financial terms and therefore determined by sales, is more or less determined by buyers who are often 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 introduce abstracted imagery to a conservative and largely uninformed public. The local resistance 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 abstraction. 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 rediscovery 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 Borman May 2016 Cape Town page 3

4 Owusu Ankomah (b 1956) Microcron Kusum No Acrylic on canvas 140 x 170 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 4

5 Cecil Skotnes (b ) Composition from passages through an alien land 1981 Oil on board 29 x 38,5 cm Signed bottom middle page 5

6 Walter Battiss (b ) Fruit sellers in the sun Oil on canvas 40,5 x 45,5 cm Signed bottom left page 6

7 Cecil Skotnes (b ) Head Carved, incised and painted wood panel 76 x 102 cm Signed top right page 7

8 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Interlude 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 152 x 122 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 8

9 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Still life with lemons 2016 Oil on canvas 90 x 83,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 9

10 Hennie Niemann Jnr (b 1972) The musician 2016 Oil on canvas 89,5 x 60 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 10

11 Simon Stone (b 1952) Red painting with dancing nude 2015 Oil on canvas on board 38,5 x 33,5 cm Signed bottom right page 11

12 Walter Battiss (b ) Houses in Zanzibar Oil on canvas 30 x 40,5 cm Signed bottom right page 12

13 Erik Laubcher (b ) Overberg No Acrylic on board 73 x 121,5 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 13

14 Peter Clarke (b ) Donga along Misrydrift 1960 Gouache 20 x 25,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 14

15 Pranas Domsaitis (b ) Three sisters, Karoo Oil on board 35,5 x 54,5 cm Signed bottom right page 15

16 Ephraim Ngatane ( ) Township scene 1964 Ink, pen, pastel and watercolour on paper 37 x 54 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 16

17 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Alchemy 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 152 x 122 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 17

18 Anthony Lane (b 1961) Introspection (Continuum series) 2016 Stainless steel - Edition of 9 43,5 x 71 x 63 cm R page 18

19 Lars Fischedick (b 1968) White Orb 2015 Enamel on wood Diameter 113 cm Signed and dated verso page 19

20 Anthony Lane (b 1961) Repose (Continuum series) 2016 Stainless steel - Edition of 9 44 x 83 x 72 cm R page 20

21 Lars Fischedick (b 1968) Mastaba (Eternal house) 2016 Acrylic, wood and resin 102 x 121,5 cm Signed, titled and dated on the back page 21

22 Anthony Lane (b 1961) The bather (Origami series) 2016 Stainless steel - Edition of 9 88 x 117 x 211 cm Signed, dated and editioned at the foot page 22

23 Lars Fischedick (b 1968) Dreiseiten Blau 2015 Acrylic on wood 150 x 104,5 cm Signed and dated verso page 23

24 Anthony Lane (b 1961) Reclining man (Origami series) 2016 Stainless steel - Edition of 9 88 x 117 x 211 cm Signed, dated and editioned on the foot page 24

25 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL5 Vitrified stoneware Height: 60,5 cm R page 25

26 Anton Chapman (b 1958) Romance 2009 Oil on canvas 30,5 x 90 cm Signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas page 26

27 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL4 Vitrified stoneware Height: 49,5 cm R page 27

28 Nigel Mullins (b 1969) Hopeful monsters 2001 Oil on canvas 180 x 180 cm Signed, titled and dated verso page 28

29 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL7 Vitrified stoneware Height: 71 cm R page 29

30 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Spring Fair 2015 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 30

31 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL6 Vitrified stoneware Height: 70 cm R page 31

32 Hussein Salim (b 1966) Sahara love 2016 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 150 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 32

33 Dumile Feni ( ) Anguished woman c1968 Bronze Height: 26 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 33

34 Hussein Salim (b 1966) Eshrag (brightness) 2016 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 150 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 34

35 Edoardo Villa ( ) Standing figure 1964 Bronze - Edition 4 of 6 Height: 48 cm Signed, editioned and dated bottom page 35

36 Hussein Salim (b 1966) Symbols 2016 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 150 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 36

37 Edoardo Villa ( ) Head 1996 Bronze - Edition 4 of 6 Height: 29,5 cm Signed, editioned and dated bottom page 37

38 Hussein Salim (b 1966) Joy 2016 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 150 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 38

39 Hennie Niemann Jnr (b 1972) The reunion 2015 Oil on canvas 59,5 x 45 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 39

40 Cecil Skotnes (b ) Head and figure Carved, incised and painted wood panel 58 x 45 cm Signed bottom left page 40

41 Ezrom Legae (b ) Head of a child ca Bronze Height 26 cm page 41

42 Owusu Ankomah (b 1956) Prelude to the Microcron No Acrylic on canvas 40 x 30 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 42

43 Cecil Skotnes (b ) Ancestral spirits Carved, incised and painted wood panel 60 x 62,5 cm Signed bottom middle page 43

44 Simon Stone (b 1952) Man on stoep Oil on cardboard 32 x 13 cm Signed top left page 44

45 Walter Battiss (b ) Banana Boy Silkscreen on paper - Edition 4/30 Paper size 44,5 x 63,5 cm Signed bottom left page 45

46 Giovanna Biallo (b 1954) Wall of forever 2015 Oil on canvas 41,5 x 51 cm Signed bottom right page 46

47 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL1 Vitrified stoneware Height: 42 cm page 47

48 Bridget Riley (b 1931) Ra (Inverted) Silkscreen on paper - Edition 56/85 135,5 x 113,5 cm Titled, numbered, signed and dated in the margin page 48

49 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL3 Vitrified stoneware Height: 56,5 cm R page 49

50 Anton Chapman (b 1958) Found 2013 Oil on canvas 30 x 80 cm Signed and dated on the stretcher frame page 50

51 Louise Linder (b 1960) LL2 Vitrified stoneware Height: 70,5 cm page 51

52 Giovanna Biallo (b 1954) Rare Earth 2015 Gouache 51,5 x 34,5 cm Signed bottom right page 52

53 Anthony Lane (b 1961) Reclining (Origami series) 2015 Stainless steel - Edition of 9 88 x 117 x 211 cm Signed, dated and editioned at the bottom page 53

54 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Synchro-city V 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 145,5 x 180 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 54

55 Wehrner Lemmer (b 1963) Le Blanc Spraypainted mild steel Height: 207 cm page 55

56 Lars Fischedick (b 1968) Flight of two swallows 2015 Acrylic on wood 99 x 112 cm Signed and dated verso page 56

57 Owusu Ankomah (b 1956) Prelude to the Microcron No Acrylic on canvas 90 x 100 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 57

58 Wehrner Lemmer (b 1963) Cappuccino Spraypainted mild steel Height: 175,5 cm page 58

59 Anthony Lane (b 1961) Lolita (Origami series) 2015 Stainless steel - Edition of 9 88 x 117 x 211 cm Signed, dated and editioned at the bottom page 59

60 Gavin Rain (b 1971) The chairman 2014 Acrylic on canvas 120 x 120 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 60

61 Hennie Niemann Jnr (b 1972) The couple 2016 Oil on canvas 61 x 60 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 61

62 Cecil Skotnes (b ) Reclining figure and portrait Carved, incised and painted wood panel 45 x 61 cm Signed bottom right page 62

63 Hussein Salim (b 1966) My people II 2008 Acrylic and collage on canvas 169,5 x 170,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 63

64 Georgina Gratrix (b 1982) Young girl 2010 Watercolour 69,5 x 49,5 cm Certificate of authenticity page 64

65 Robert Slingsby (b 1955) Common ground 2000 Oil on canvas 67 x 87 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 65

66 Susqya Williams (b 1939) Portrait of a landscape III 2013 Hand-woven tapestry 123 x 108 cm cm page 66

67 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Etude VI April Oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 67

68 Lars Fischedick (b 1968) Geometric IV 2015 Acrylic on wood 40 x 40 cm Signed and dated verso page 68

69 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Etude VII April Oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 69

70 Warrick Kemp (b 1968) Bull & Bear 2014 Bronze - Edition of 9 Height 30 cm Signed and editioned at bottom page 70

71 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Etude V April Oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 71

72 Lynn Russel Chadwick ( ) Miniature Figure II 1986 Bronze 9/30 Height: 7.5 cm Signed and editioned on the bottom page 72

73 Lynn Russel Chadwick ( ) Miniature Figure III 1986 Bronze 10/30 Height: 9 cm Signed and editioned on the bottom page 73

74 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Synchro-city II 2015 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 145,5 x 180 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 74

75 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Still life 2016 Oil on canvas 35 x 30 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 75

76 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Awakening 2015 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 76

77 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Cellist 2015 Oil on canvas 50 x 50 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 77

78 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Synchro-city IX 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 78

79 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Etude II April Oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 79

80 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Synchro-city VIII 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 80

81 Wehrner Lemmer (b 1963) Blue/Orange Spraypainted mild steel Height: 144 cm page 81

82 Anton Chapman (b 1958) Comet 2013 Oil on canvas 30 x 30 cm Signed and dated on the stretcher frame page 82

83 Lars Fischedick (b 1968) Across 2015 Acrylic and lacquer on wood 126 x 45 cm Signed and dated on the side page 83

84 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Neon Buzz I 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 84

85 Anton Chapman (b 1958) Entrance 2010 Oil on canvas 30,5 x 90 cm Signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas page 85

86 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Neon Buzz II 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 86

87 Anton Chapman (b 1958) Pastoral 2009 Oil on canvas 30,5 x 90 cm Signed, titled and dated on the back of the canvas page 87

88 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Night Noise I 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 152 x 122 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 88

89 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Guardian 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 89

90 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Night Noise II 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 152 x 122 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 90

91 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Synchro-city VII 2016 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 91

92 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Etude III May Oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 92

93 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Companions 2015 Acrylic and mixed media on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 93

94 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Etude IV April Oil on canvas 20 x 20 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 94

95 Lucky Sibiya (b ) Abstract Carved, incised and painted wood panel 61 x 91 cm Signed bottom right page 95

96 Sydney Kumalo (b ) God sent the lizard 1973 Pastel on paper 56 x 76 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 96

97 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Breekwater September Oil on canvas (pentaptych) 20 x 100 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 97

98 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Zora s Terrace - Homage to Matisse 2015 Oil on canvas 35 x 30 cm Signed and dated bottom left page 98

99 Marlene von Dürckheim (b 1945) Variations I - Window with balcony 2015 Oil on canvas 35 x 30 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 99

100 Georgia Lane (b 1960) Metro Pulse I 2015 Acrylic on canvas 127 x 101,5 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 100

101 Anton Chapman (b 1958) Transition 2013 Acrylic on canvas 30 x 80 cm Signed and dated bottom right page 101