Friday, July 31, 2015

My Limpopo - Jaco Roux's fresh relief gives us a painting we can enjoy






Like all Jaco Roux paintings Sashe-Limpopo Confluence is a representation of the meeting of the naturalistic landscape, stark yet inviting, and brightly coloured areas of expressive colour. Similar to how the two major tributaries, the Sashe River and the Limpopo River, flow into one another, abstract areas of vibrant colour move with an effortless continuity into the dramatic landscape. Sashe-Limpopo Confluence is a powerful work as the vantage point of the painting depicts the meeting point of three significant countries (Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana) and the confluence of two major tributaries (Sashe and Limpopo Rivers). Similarly we are struck by Jaco’s fearless use of colour depicting the bold sun colours shimmering off the dry landscape. This painting, as all Jaco Roux’s, projects an openhearted optimism, no morbid undercurrents or hyperrealism are to be found, rather a fresh relief beckons the viewer giving us a painting we can enjoy.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Fresh take on Aldo Balding




Aldo Balding draws the viewer in with a distinctive narrative quality that has become a signature of his work. Through the use of a minimal tonal palette and engaging subjects Balding creates a timeless composition. Recently Balding’s work has an added stylistic quality where he plays with looseness in less central areas of the canvas. In Viridian and Cadmium Balding creates an elegant yet contemporary composition. A classical symmetrical balance imparted with a contemporary element by expressive gestures and the modern dress of the subjects and a looser painting quality. Balding highlights the work with a splash of Cadmium Red that adds a fresh and fun spark of excitement to the scene. As always the experience Balding has created for the viewer is to invite our interest and pique our admiration for his technical expertise.

Friday, July 24, 2015

New works by Albert Coertse.



VVV III, Mixed Media on panel, 110 x 110 cm


Oestrus, Mixed Media on panel, 103 x 103 cm

Abstract art, that which deals with form, shape, color and without any direct reference to a visual, is a new direction within Albert Coertse’ work. The use of color in this manner frees it from an objective reference and the color becomes the subject itself. Similarly Line is a primary subject in this new body of work, creating an abstract dimension independent of allusions to a particular signifier. Thus, through the use of form and color spreading, Albert’s works lead our eye into an abstract space within the painting. Margaret Livingston Phd, in Vision and Art: The Biology of Seeing, explains how specific centers of the brain respond only to color and others only to shape, and how art through the sense of vision can engage our brains in imaginative ways. In an abstract work, while our conscious mind is absorbed with the movement of color and line, our unconscious engages in our own unique subjective experiences. Perhaps memories, or emotions or an uncanny resemblance of the work to something within our personal experiences will arise. Thus an abstract work of this quality speaks to one of our most innate drives, the drive for Freedom! Freedom within - of our cognition, emotion and imagination - sparked by the pleasing colors and lines of these artworks is how we experience an Albert Coertse.