Andre Serfontein

Drawing, painting and sculpting are all different ways for me to explore the human form.

My intention isn’t to capture an ideal or present the pinnacle of beauty. I distort and exaggerate certain physical features to capture, amplify and accentuate the essence of my subjects.

I look for interesting faces, for details that I can interpret, for ways to heighten what I see. I’m drawn to a bold, resilient beauty that’s imperfect and asymmetrical... the rare magnetism of men and women who are truly comfortable in their skin.

Which new trends or South African artists do you find inspiring at the moment?
I am mostly drawn to figurative art, whether its painting sculpture or drawing. I enjoy it when there is a sense of the material being used, that there is a confidence in the exploration of the subject and medium. I love Wim Botha exhibitions, each piece is executed with incredible skill and stands in relation all the other works to create an incredibly well rounded experience
 
Which South African deceased artist do you most admire and why?
Walter Batiss, he seems like an absolute free spirit, his work was playful and quirky and I love that he was not bound by a particular style. Stanley Pinker and Robert Hogkins are also favourites.

If you could only have one piece of art in your life, what would it be?
Apart from being an exquisite painting, Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time by Bronzino has always intrigued me. Lots of ambiguous symbols and that figures are all distorted but somehow seem just right, this distortion is something I’ve tried to incorporate in my work

How did you get started? Did you always want to be an artist?
Since I was a small child I’ve always drawn and painted, and while my creativity was always encouraged, I grew up thinking it should be used in commercial or design career, like advertising and not as an artist. Although I have always continued my art practice I have only recently felt the confidence and conviction to paint and sculpt full time.

What are some of the key themes you explore in your work?
I am always influenced by the beauty that surround me, people, nature and the everyday. In people I like to find something unique, people that break the mold, don’t conform to gender roles but have the confidence to be their own person and be true to who they are. .My work is more intuitive and evocative rather than illustrative.

What should people know about your art that they can’t tell from looking at it?
That the finished painting looks nothing like the painting I initially planned, I have to allow the painting to evolve and let go of preconceived ideas, embrace accidents and be open to the subconscious.

Tell us more about your creative process.
For inspiration I spend a lot of time walking in nature, photographing and drawing. Once a week I do figure drawing and I often work from found reference material. Most paintings start with a pencil sketch in which I familiarize myself with the subject matter, I exaggerate, push and pull the relationships between all the elements. Once I’m happy I transfer this to canvas and start painting. I try not to over analyse or to get to contrived but rather to connect emotionally and have a clear sense of the mood.

What drives you as an artist?
The excitement of being inspired by something and the journey of discovery it can take me on.

Do you have a favourite or most meaningful work?
I would need a little more time and distance from my current work to really be able to make a choice

What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date?
2019 has been a great for year for me, making the decision to create art full time and having my first solo exhibition which was very successful is a highlight which lead to my involvement in many group shows. A third place in the Sanlam Portrait awards was great but to a lesser extent.

What are your aspirations for the future?
To explore all the different disciplines and techniques I work in and to aim towards and creating a more cohesion in my work. I would like more solo shows and hopefully not only locally.