Artists’ Profiles

Catherine Dickerson
Amber-Jade Geldenhuys
Ansie Greyling
Kadromatt
Ikram Lakhdhar
Kai Lossgott
Leroye Malaton
Nelson Makamo
Agnes Marton
Naadira Patel
Sandile Radebe
Elgin Rust
Pauline Theart
Mma Tseleng
Marguerite Visser


Catherine Dickerson is predominantly interested in inflatable sculptures because of their erratic kinetic movements and imposing scale. She says: “They are breathing plastic forms, carved from simple air. The space they rise and dominate becomes latent with weight, only to collapse again like a forgotten memory. They rise and fall with a subtleness that emphasises their fragility and impermanence. The sculptures capture an interactive and quirky playfulness, as well as an underlying mutated and sinister undertone.” Plastic as a medium has become a more prominent element to the sculptures she creates, with sheet plastic a representation of modern consumerism and environmental degradation. The ability to use discarded and found sheet plastic materials to make her inflatables emphasises concerns regarding the environment, industrialisation and refabrication. Dickerson holds a Master Degree in Fine Art from Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT. She lives in Johannesburg and has been involved in numerous group exhibitions.

Jellyfish (2010)

Catherine Dickerson
plastic, air
dimensions variable


Amber-Jade Geldenhuys is a practising artist working with installation, sculpture, drawing and video. Her artmaking practice engages people and structures through sculptures and interventions. In 2011, Geldenhuys won an Absa L’Atelier Merit Award and in 2010, won the Mixed Media Merit Award at the Ekurhuleni Thami Mnyele National Fine Arts Awards. In 2009, she won the PPC Cement Young Concrete Sculptor Awards and in that same year was a finalist for the Sony Student Focus Competition winning overall for Africa and the Middle East where she attended the World Photography Awards held annually in Cannes, France. Geldenhuys is currently completing a Masters qualification at the University of the Witwatersrand and is a part-time Contextual Studies Lecturer appointed tutor at the University of Johannesburg. Visit Amber-Jade’s website.

Theatrical Rituals (2012)

Amber-Jade Geldenhuys
Obsolete surveillance cameras, cabling
2m x 2m x 3m


Ansie Greyling was born in Emphangeni, Kwazulu Natal in 1982 and lives and work in Johannesburg. She completed her undergraduate studies in 2010 and is currently completing a Master’s degree at the University of the Witwatersrand. Greyling won the Robert Hodgins prize in 2009 at Wits School of Arts and participated in various group shows, including: the ‘Martienssen Prize Exhibition’ at Museum Africa in Johannesburg (2010), ‘New Work 2010’ at Main Street Life in Johannesburg (2010), ‘Zoo City’ at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg (2011) and ‘See/Saw’ at Michaelis Lab in Cape Town (2012). She hosted a solo show in 2010 as part of her undergraduate degree entitled ‘Educe: to bring out something latent or potential’ at No. 9 Wolmarans street, University of the Witwatersrand.

Loop (2010)

Ansie Greyling
tyres


Kadromatt is a creative practitioner on an exploration of sound as an emerging theatre for the ear. He is fascinated by the processes and dialogues that can be staged within sound, possibilities to narrate stories. He moulds, manipulates, adds, edits, applies effects and expands recorded realities of sound generated by our everyday world. Two of his latest works were part of group exhibitions. THERE IS HILLBROW FOR YOU was part of ‘Sounding Out’, a group exhibition curated by Kim Gurney at the Bag Factory, Johannesburg, and DEAD AIR formed part of ‘Out of Thin Air’ curated by Lerato Bereng, at Stevenson Cape Town. Before that, Kadromatt co-curated with Mma Tseleng the Thath’i Cover Okestra, an evolving Pan-African orchestra that explores and expands dance music.

Hillbrow: The Map (detail) (2012)

Mma Tsaleng & Kadromatt
Installation towards a cassette sleeve and mixtape publication as part of the Independent Publishing Project
Image credit: Francis Burger


Ikram Lakhdhar was born in Kairouan, Tunisia in 1989. She was the first Tunisian to be awarded a four-year full scholarship at Connecticut College, USA. She is now in her final year of completing a BA in self-designed major in Arts and Politics and a three-year research thesis through CISLA honours programme. Lakhdhar has studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina (2011), where she interned in a contemporary art gallery and an art foundation allowing her to closely assist emerging artists and connect with curators from renowned museums all over the world. She is here in South Africa on an internship at David Krut Arts Projects. She has previously worked with Tunisia Live culture section, the first English newspaper based in Tunisia where she was writing about the relationship between the arts and politics. She is interested in how art can be used to critically analyse and bring about change through socio-political transitionary periods such as in post-apartheid South Africa and in post-revolutionary Tunisia. Lakhdar says: “I have been brought up exposed to the relationship between the arts and politics. My father is a politician and my mom is a poet, so that in my heart art and politics collide. My outlook on life has been shaped by the numerous life-changing experiences that made me the person I am today. I am a self-driven citizen of the world, constantly challenging myself and pushing my limits to learn about international politics as well as political and social messages conveyed through art.”


Kai Lossgott, an interdisciplinary artist, investigates the inner workings of the human body and the personal element in green politics, most often in video, drawing and poetry. His award-winning short experimental films have been shown at major festivals on five continents. Since 2008, he has had three solo exhibitions of his drawings in the form of engraved plant leaves in lightboxes, participated in numerous group shows, published a book of poetry, and has become known for his live site-specific public performance art collaborations. His curatorial projects include the internationally touring artists’ film programmes CITY BREATH and LETTERS FROM THE SKY. Lossgott holds tertiary qualifications in dance theatre, documentary film, creative writing and fine art , all cum laude, including an MA from the University of Cape Town. He has lectured at various South African universities, as well as facilitating community arts initiatives. German by birth (1980), he grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, and lives and works in Cape Town. Visit www.kailossgott.com

gestation (reader's digest may1985) (2012)

Kai Lossgott
Laser-cut magazine and millipede
C-print on archival paper
50 x 56 cm


Leroye Malaton grew up in Riverlea Extension and is studying with intent towards deepening his art career. His mediums range from airbrushed murals to pencil sketches, ballpoint drawings, charcoal drawings, printmaking and watercolour paintings. He has also been commissioned for several portraits and banners for various events and functions, including for ABSA, and introducing his work to the Riverlea community. Malaton has exhibited with the Artist Proof Studios on ‘21 Years’ (2012), after which he was selected for ‘Emerging Impressions’, a group APS show at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. Malaton lives and works in Riverlea.


Nelson Makamo was born in Nylstroom (now Modimolle), Limpopo province, in 1982. He moved to Johannesburg to join the Artist Proof Studio in January 2003. He was the recipient of the Johnson and Johnson bursary (2005) and the Pinpointone Human Resources Scholarship (2005). Makamo has exhibited in group and solo exhibitions in South Africa, France, Italy, America, Netherlands and Scotland. His first solo exhibition, ‘Walk with Me’, was held at the Obert Contemporary Gallery in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. His most notable group exhibition was alongside established South African artists in ‘Ten Years of Printmaking: David Krut Print Studio’ (2006). Makamo has recently exhibited with emerging young artists Lehlohonolo Mashaba and Senzo Shabangu in ‘My City exhibition’, curated by Andile Magengelele.?Makamo’s commissioned works include a series of Lekas Lekalakala’s portraits for a chamber opened at Potgietersrus (now Mokopane), in 2006.? Other commissioned work include portraits of Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, and Walter Sisulu, for Matasis Investment Holdings. Makamo’s work forms part of various collections, including Giorgio Armani and Annie Lennox.

Is all about how I see myself (2012)

oil on Canvas
90 cm x 90 cm


Agnes Marton, a Hungarian-born poet, has participated in various exhibitions and art projects including: ‘Opposition’ (USA), ‘Flow’ (Switzerland), ‘So What’ (New Zealand), ‘Stone Project’ (USA), ‘Gateway Project’ (USA), ‘Arts et Jardin’ (France), ‘Windows for Burns Night’ (UK), ‘Dharmic Angels’ (UK), ‘European Sculpture: Methods, Materials, Poetry’ (Sweden), ‘Perfume Project’ (UK), ‘Creatrix: Women Writers on Truth (for Adrienne Rich)’ (UK), ‘Rhino Poetry’ (South-Africa), ‘ECCE Artist’ (Italy). She has performed in five countries. Forthcoming collaborations: Chicago, September 2013 (with Gabriella Boros); Luxembourg, 2013 (with Brigitte Siegeler). She has also been collaborating with French sculptor Mani Bour and Japanese/ American artist painter Midori McCabe. Both collaborations have been featured in London art magazines. Publications include: ‘Sculpture/poésie’ (France); ‘Gateway’ (USA); anthologies and literary magazines in the USA and in the UK; ‘The New Encyclopaedia of Hungarian Literature’ (co-author); and filmographies. Marton is a member of the Federation of Writers Scotland and the (Germany-based) Sculpture Network. She is an editor, linguist and translator who lives in Luxembourg.

Naked Rattlesnake (poem) & Snake Woman (sculpture)

Agnes Marton (poet) & Mani Bour (sculptor) - collaboration


Naadira Patel (born 1988 in Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa) is a Johannesburg-based artist and curator whose work crosses between the mediums of painting, photography and video. She completed her undergraduate BA Fine Arts Degree at the Wits School of Arts in 2010 and is currently the assistant curator and Exhibitions Coordinator in the Division of Visual Arts at the Wits School of Arts, managing the Substation gallery space and co-curator of The Substation Residency: Dislocating the Studio. She has worked as a project manager and curatorial assistant on numerous projects, including the Joburg Art Fair in 2009 and 2010, Stevenson JHB in 2010, Wide Angle: Photography as Public Practice in 2011, and is currently a participant and coordinator in ‘Play/Urban’ (2011-2013) a collaboration between the Wits School of Arts and ESAD Strasbourg, France.

What is this impulse towards death? (2012)

Naadira Patel
Video Still
2‘6”


Sandile Radebe was raised and lives in Johannesburg. His childhood was spent in the inner city where he lived with his family. The general atmosphere of the inner city had a profound impact upon his understanding of his environment and self, which culminated in his affinity first with rap and later, graffiti - both predominantly deal with notions of urban survival. Radebe in 2009 founded Streetwhys Production, a muralist company that aims to create an appreciation of street art using public space as a platform. It also promotes skill-sharing between established and aspiring street artists. Radebe studied Fine Art at the University of the Witwatersrand (2002-2006) and obtained a postgraduate diploma in Arts and Cultural Management from the same institution in 2009. He has participated in various workshops and undertaken several collaborative mural commissions.

Mural commissioned by King Kong (2011)

Sandile Radebe
enamel paints on a metal gate


Elgin Rust was born in Düsseldorf, Germany, in 1974. She received her BA(FA) in 2007 at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, earning the class medal for Studiowork in her third year. In 2010, Rust completed her MFA with distinction. Focussed mainly on sculpture and installation, Rust nonetheless works with a wide range of media. She has participated in numerous group shows in Cape Town including the Michaelis Galleries, the Association for Visual Art (AVA) and the Rooster Theatre Collective, as well as participating in a workshop facilitated by the L’Atelier D’Alexandrie (Egypt, 2009). ‘Judgement – Uitspraak 2011, Case No 001/05/2008’ was her first solo exhibition, hosted by The AVA Gallery, Cape Town. Rust’s work is included in private and public collections such as the UCT Works of Art Collection and the Ellerman House Contemporary Art Collection. The paper redress-un-dressed: Introducing a play of judicial and aesthetic processes of redress was published in 2011 in the South African Journal of Art History (Vol 26, Issue 1). Rust lives and works in Cape Town.

Process Sketch 1 (2010)

Elgin Rust
A4 photo copy and pen


Pauline Theart completed a BA Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria in 2006, followed by teaching English in South Korea in 2007, Arts and Culture teacher at Hoerskool Linden, Johannesburg, lecturer in film theory at the South African School of Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance (AFDA) in 2010 and is currently in the process of completing a Masters in Interactive Media at the University of the Witwatersrand, specialising in voice and song as a medium in sound art. Simultaneously, she is completing her final year of classical voice training and recently assisted James Webb with his installation of ‘Prayer’ at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in 2012.


Mma Tseleng plays music and conducts research into the social and economic impact of Kwaito. Furthermore, Mma Tseleng initiates music and audio projects that explores alternative avenues for Kwaito and electronic music production. Previous and ongoing projects include a mixtape and cassette sleeve publication titled Hillbrow: The Map, produced on occasion of the Independent Publishing Project and the Thath ‘i Cover Okestra, an evolving Pan-African orchestra that explores dance music, both co-curated with Kadromatt.

Hillbrow: The Map (detail) (2012)

Mma Tsaleng & Kadromatt
Installation towards a cassette sleeve and mixtape publication as part of the Independent Publishing Project
Image credit: Francis Burger


Marguerite Visser is a part-time practising artist originally from Kimberley, recently relocated to Johannesburg. She obtained her BA (Fine Art) degree from the University of the Free State in 2007. The artist has since then participated in various group exhibitions countrywide including ‘Hanging Gardens’ (KKNK 2012), ‘100 Plates’ (Vryfees 2012) and ‘Process’ (Vryfees 2011). Visser collaborated in 2010 and 2011 with artist MC Roodt on an installation entitled (ge)integr(i/eerde)t(eit/yd): a visual sonnet cycle in – a body of work exploring the interface between adoration and epistolary technologies. The latter project sparked an interest in collaboration and the combination of different art forms, something she has taken to exploring in her current projects. Her day job is tutoring Afrikaans and Art at CTG Education.


  • Process Sketch 1 (2010)
    Process Sketch 1 (2010)

    Elgin Rust
    A4 photo copy and pen

  • Loop (2010)
    Loop (2010)

    Ansie Greyling
    tyres

  • Jellyfish (2010)
    Jellyfish (2010)

    Catherine Dickerson
    plastic, air
    dimensions variable

  • Theatrical Rituals (2012)
    Theatrical Rituals (2012)

    Amber-Jade Geldenhuys
    Obsolete surveillance cameras, cabling
    2m x 2m x 3m

  • gestation (reader's digest may1985) (2012)
    gestation (reader's digest may1985) (2012)

    Kai Lossgott
    Laser-cut magazine and millipede
    C-print on archival paper
    50 x 56 cm

  • Naked Rattlesnake (poem) & Snake Woman (sculpture)
    Naked Rattlesnake (poem) & Snake Woman (sculpture)

    Agnes Marton (poet) & Mani Bour (sculptor) - collaboration

  • What is this impulse towards death? (2012)
    What is this impulse towards death? (2012)

    Naadira Patel
    Video Still
    2‘6”

  • Mural commissioned by King Kong (2011)
    Mural commissioned by King Kong (2011)

    Sandile Radebe
    enamel paints on a metal gate

  • Is all about how I see myself (2012)
    Is all about how I see myself (2012)

    oil on Canvas
    90 cm x 90 cm

  • Hillbrow: The Map (detail) (2012)
    Hillbrow: The Map (detail) (2012)

    Mma Tsaleng & Kadromatt
    Installation towards a cassette sleeve and mixtape publication as part of the Independent Publishing Project
    Image credit: Francis Burger