Renowned Boksburg artist puts new techniques to the test
When one has been in the arts for six decades, you begin to tire of painting popular subjects.
“I believe one should look at all the aspects, research, read up on history of art, and see lots and lots of real art in reputable galleries,” said Barry de Villiers, the renowned Boksburg artist.
“You don’t have to paint only things that are sellable; none of the great artists ever did.
“Most true artists are poor people, but prefer a frugal lifestyle to potboiling.”
“There is so much more to art than just picture making.”
He has now experimented with the following styles:
q Phantasmagoria: De Villiers’s own unDali-like interpretation of surrealism
It’s fine with De Villiers if these works are disliked.
“Dislike is an emotion and art is supposed to be emotion-provoking. Besides, I am just too old to be in any way ‘mainstream’.”
q Eulenspiegel theme: The owl is pompous wisdom; the mirror (is) an instrument you use to take a look at yourself.
This collection of de Villiers will be shown at the Woordfees, Stellenbosch, at the invitation of Koos van der Merwe, well-known singer and poet, who will facilitate the exhibition.
Some of these works have been the inspiration for some of Van der Merwe’s new poems.
“The legend of Til Eulenspiegel was immortalised by my alter ego, Vaslav Nijinsky, whose life and work I have researched for many years,” said de Villiers.
The collection is on photographic record with the Arts and Culture Department of the Ekurhuleni Metro and most of the works are reserved.
