"Woord: A Collaboration between Pienaar van Niekerk and Louis Esterhuizen"
2005-04-25 until 2005-05-24
US Art Gallery
Stellenbosch, ML, ZA South Africa

The theme for this exhibition was directly derived from the collaboration between Pienaar van Niekerk and poet (and personal friend) Louis Esterhuizen. Louis’s latest volume of poetry Liefland was published in 2004 with one of Pienaar’s paintings entitled ‘n Handvol gruis uit die Hantam on the cover. Pienaar uses Louis’ poems as basis and content for his paintings.

Pienaar prefers not to “illustrate” the content, but rather to use words and text as intelectual, symbolic and even abstract material. I this way, text can be treated as texture and letters as form.

Pienaar “plays” with different planes to create depth. He uses the transparency of various media in order to create picture planes. He often uses the square as picture plane, which then in turn becomes sub-divided. This format can be divided in two rectangles, of which the top one can be cut in a triangle. The triangle symbolises Trinity.

Marriana Booyens feels that rhis exhibition is “the culmination of various stories and seasons”. The paintings that she made for Stef Bos for his volume of poetry Gebroke sinne will be on exhibition. “Altijd als je denkt dit is het einde sta je op de grens van wat begint... ” (Stef Bos).

Her new work depicts her love of words. Small black and white photos appear in many of the works – photos that want to tell stories and create painting. Marriana also an illustrator for children’s books and exhibits regularly at the Arts Festivals.

Related Links:

Indepth Arts Resources for South Africa

Other Important Exhibitions in South Africa