 ROBERT SLINGSBY Underfoot 3 Sold |
 ROBERT SLINGSBY Common Ground Sold |
 ROBERT SLINGSBY Midas Touch |
 ROBERT SLINGSBY Reclining Gaie |
 ROBERT SLINGSBY Land Claim Land Not for sale |
Artist's Statement
"Robert Slingsbly is truly an artist of our time and beyond his time; his career has spanned over three decades in which he has constantly worked to find the truth in the world he has evolved in through his paintings and sculpture.
To understand Robert's work, he invites his audience to trace their roots back to the ancients and even further, to the beginning of man and their first engravings on rocks. He has documented these original symbols and geometric spiral depictions by recording their history and the mystery behind them in his powerful paintings. Robert's work is full of energy, and was originally portrayed in his blatant use of colour and thickness of paint, allowing the surface to be engraved, so that every line led you into the depth of his painting, asking you to explore the mystery behind the conception of the geometric spirals and brutal but ever evolving beautiful Africa, which he loves so much.
Having worked with Robert Slingsby over a number of years, it has been an academic journey watching his work take its rightful place on the World Art Stage. His current paintings continue along the same path, but have advanced in subject, style and technique."
Reviews:
- Excess(Ive) Baggage by Hazel Friedman. A major essay from the Catalogue of Robert Slingsby's London exhibition at the Square One Gallery, June - July 2007
- Land Claim Land by Hazel Friedman. This article concisely captures aspects of the socio-political commentary embedded in Slingsby's masterly sculpture, Land Claim Land, and related paintings of 2005 - 2006. These works are eloquent protests against the marginalisation of the forgotten people of the Richtersveld (an area in the remote North-Western Cape, along the Orange River).
Robert Slingsby - An Overview
Cape Town artist, Robert Slingsby’s career has spanned more than three decades, in which subject, style and technique have undergone significant changes and advances.
But, underlying it all has been his obsessive fascination with the ancient rock paintings or petroglyphs; those mysterious, non-figurative images to be found in the Richtersveld (near the Orange River, on South Africa’s north-western border) and other world sites. Although his work has evolved as he has developed his own alphabet of petroglyphs, the core of the inspiration behind his works remains the story on the rocks – a sub-text that informs his extensive and dynamic oevre of paintings and sculpture.
In Comic Affair, a highly charged painting done in 2007, Slingsby alludes to the current climate of global insecurity - resulting from terrorist threats- that has seen the emergence of a paranoid society. On his frequent travels last year to attend a number of his international exhibitions, he felt confronted by the constant surveillance at airports and in the streets, as well as by the feeling of being exposed and intimidated by ‘big brother’ threats, real or perceived. The presence of female nudes in this work expresses feelings of invasion of privacy and vulnerability, of being absorbed into a way of life that is beyond our control. The imagery includes familiar objects such as aeroplanes, suitcases and nudes in a setting in the midst of conveyor belts, satellites and surveillance equipment – all superimposed over a substructure of images inspired by the petroglyphs.
Slingsby’s latest body.of work, produced in 2008, has been influenced by a recent visit to China.‘ The visual discourse lies in emulating the Chinese ability to reflect that which is personal in their art – where a place can become an experience, and an experience a place’, comments the artist.
In these new works – such as Take A Ride - his signature technique dictates the quintessentially linear style of his painting: his preoccupation with line as found in the geometric shapes of the rock art of the Richtersveld.
Biography
After thirty years of being an artist, there are few who can rival his focus, dedication and dynamism in the production of art. The story starts decades ago, when Robert discovered, as a small child, both his talent for drawing and his affinity for Africa in the form of rock-art and artefacts.
By the time Robert left school, he was ready to have his first solo exhibition at a prestigious gallery. Against a background of disturbing politics and a need to further his art education, he left for Holland, to study at the Vrije Akademie in Den Haag for five years. Although these were not easy years for a South African in Holland due to the total cultural boycott of South Africa, Robert nevertheless managed to carve out the beginnings of a highly successful career there and returned to South Africa after over twenty solo exhibitions to his credit in the art-literate European society. Despite the odds, he managed to further what was now clearly the beginning of a long career as an artist.
Over the decades, various phases in his art can be recognised. Initially he may have been regarded as a surrealist, inspired by the likes of Salvador Dali. Following that was a period of hyperrealism, where he was acknowledged as being one of Holland's top "Fyn-schilders". The subject matter at this time included a Slingsby character called a ballman. This character was used to portray the greed and vulgarity of mankind. The ballman evolved into his compartmentalised face period. Inspired by Picasso, it can actually be identified as a feature of his art that is always present in some way or another.
Back in South Africa, Robert was able to rekindle his love of the African desert and rock art. He embarked on the beginning of what was to be countless field trips where he photographically recorded the rock art of the Richtersveld. It was inevitable that some day it would intrude into his work. This point in time was reached virtually overnight, probably the most dramatic swing from one period to the next. For many years, Robert's art was devoted to the petroglyph images, rendered as he imagined the mind of the ancients may have seen these images in altered states of consciousness. Just as it was inevitable his art would encompass this art form, so it was inevitable that he would seek an explanation for these mysterious non-figurative engravings that so cunningly always avoided the obvious in their design.
This led him on a journey that would last his lifetime. Although his work has evolved as he has developed his own alphabet of petroglyphs through his immense knowledge of the subject, the core of the inspiration behind his works remains the story on the rocks. In order to understand, he has travelled to many parts of the world, looking at other rock engravings. He has also taken this journey much further through his research by voracious reading on the subject. The journey has included not just images on rocks, but ancient texts and their various interpretations. As literature by different authors becomes available, so his understanding deepens and grows.
The dynamism and depth of his art has led him to be recognised by academics and gallerists worldwide. He has been invited to participate in exhibitions as far afield as the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Hong Kong and many parts of Europe. His work has proved to be a dialogue that is universally accepted. Besides the important exhibitions that Slingsby has participated in over the years, there have been other significant markers in his career. He is included in the current textbook that is part of the curriculum for all school art students. He is acknowledged in numerous academic books on Southern African rock art for his contribution in the recording of rock-art and its influence in his art. An enormous petroglyph painting forms a permanent, main display at the William Humphries Museum in Kimberley. He has facilitated many workshops in both painting and sculpting techniques for local NGO's. He has raised the one of highest figures ever attained by a living South African artist through the auction of an artwork of his for the benefit of the Nelson Mandela Mocambique Flood Fund. He has forged international ties with the European Art Foundation through Sir Richard Demarco and his personal interest in Robert's art. This has led to opportunities such as being the first South African artist in twenty-seven years to be invited to hold a solo exhibition at the Edinburgh Festival.
Robert is an articulate, colourful and knowledgeable man, whose creative courage has even influenced the style of everything he surrounds himself with. This has made him and his home and studio a sought-after subject, and he has consequently featured in many home-décor magazines and television programmes such as CNN Arts club and features by the French photojournalist Solvi dos Santos.
Robert's work is also represented world-wide in both public and private collections, including the personal collection of the famous American family of Wyeth artists.
Public Collections Include
ABSA
Pietersburg Art Museum
Artoteek, Dutch Municipal Collection
Witwatersrand University Collection
William Humphries Museum
SASOL Public Collection
South African Reserve Bank
Investec Bank
Telkom
Cape of Good Hope Bank Sanlam Public Collection
Department of Foreign Affairs
South African Embassy, Brussels
Metropolitan
Bunders Bank, Germany
Coronation
Pepsica
Rand Merchant Bank
SANTAM
Seeff Holdings
Deutsche Bank, Johannesburg
Major Exhibitions Include
2008
Working on major pieces for future planned exhibitions; after recovering from breaking "painting" arm.
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2007
June 19th - Square One Gallery, London, one man show
May 21st - The Gallery, London
March - Rus en Vrede, Cape Town Arts Festival
Various group shows including Cologne, New York and Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2006
December - Square One Gallery, London
December - Rose Korber's Art Salon, Cape Town
30th November - Hout Street Gallery, Paarl
24th November - Art International, Bahamas - group exhibition curated by Princess Azamat Guirey
November - Visit from World Presidents Organisation to the studio
YPO auctioned Slingsby painting which raised over $69,900.00 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre
August - Springbok "Woman - Roots of Namaqualand"
Art International, Nassau, Bahamas (November)
2005
Selected as a finalist in Brett Kebble Art Competition Exhibition that was cancelled as a result of his untimely death.
Art international group show Nassau, Bahamas
Bell-Roberts Contemporary Art Gallery - Cape Town
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2004
Finalist in Brett Kebble Art Competition Exhibition
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2003
Researching Stones of Africa
Exhibiting in Korea
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2002
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2001
Air Gallery, London
Richard De Marco - On the Road to Meikle Seggie, as part of the Venice Bienale
Research in Egypt
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
2000
Richard De Marco - On the Road to Meikle Seggie
Edinburgh City Art Gallery, Edinburgh
HANOVER EXPO 2000: GERMANY
Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, U.K.
Slingsby Painting in Collaboration with YPO UNIVERSITY 2000 raises $250,000.00
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1999
Osborne Gallery, London
Bourne Fine Art, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Festival - First South African artist in twenty-seven years to be invited.
Invited to Malta
Research in Egypt and Malta
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1998
Hout Bay Gallery, Cape Town
Klein Karroo Festival, Oudtshoorn
Lisbon Expo, Portugal
Art Beyond Borders, Augsberg, Germany
CNN Arts Club Interview
EKHAYA, Travelling Exhibition to Tsoga-Langa, Uluntu, Guguletu.
Sun Gallery, Cape Town
Primart, Cape Town
Gallery 88, Sasolburg
IKHAYE, African Studies, University of Cape Town
Bang the Gallery, Cape Town
Hout Bay Gallery, Cape Town
IDASA Gallery, Cape Town
Worcester Association of Arts, Worcester
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1997
Groot Constantia Art Gallery, Cape Town
Kunskamer, Cape Town
Red Code, Perth, Australia
'Art Salon', Bay Hotel, Camps Bay
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1996
Association of Arts, Cape Town
Robben Island Memorial Sculpture
The Arts Association of Belville
Primart, Cape Town
Gallery 68, Cape Town
Primart, Cape Town
Gallery Atlantic, Cape Town
Code Red, Perth, Australia
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Constantia Village Gallery, Cape Town
Chelsea Gallery
Kronendal Restaurant, Hout Bay
Volkskas Atelier Finalist, SAAA
'Art Salon', Bay Hotel, Camps Bay
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1995
Primart, Cape Town
BMW Pavilion, Cape Town
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Sisonke Association of Arts, Mitchells Plain
Bellville Association of Arts
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1994
SA Cultural History Museum, Cape Town
Everard Read Gallery, Johannesburg
Quid Novi Gallery, Germany
Seeff Trust Gallery, Cape Town
V & A Waterfront, Cape Town
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Sembach Gallery, Cape Town
World Convention Centre, Singapore
World Trade Centre, Hong Kong
Very Special Arts Gallery, Washington D.C.
Primart, Cape Town
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1993
University of Stellenbosch Gallery, Stellenbosch
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Art Scene, Cape Town
Skylight Gallery, Cape Town
Constantia Village Gallery, Cape Town
Primart, Cape Town
'Cape Town Arts Festival' V & A Waterfront, Cape Town
Made in Wood: Works from the Western Cape , SANG
South African Association of Arts, Pretoria
De Oude Drostdy Museum, Tulbagh
Visual Arts Foundation, Johannesburg
Bell 'Art, Cape Town
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Seeff Trust Gallery, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1992
Primart, Cape Town
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Feathers Gallery, Cape Town
'Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1991
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Primart, Cape Town
Gallery International, Cape Town
SANLAM Collection, Baxter Gallery, Cape Town
South African Association of Arts
Baxter Gallery, Cape Town
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Labia Gallery, Cape Town
Art Scene, Cape Town
William Humphries Art Museum, Kimberly
'20 Years of S.A. Art' Kunskamer, Cape Town
Art Salon' Bay Hotel, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1990
Gallery International, Cape Town
Gallery 709, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1989
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Johannes Stegman Art Gallery, Bloemfontein
Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
Natalie Knight Gallery, Johannesburg
Jane se Kunshuis, Paarl
Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1988
'The Sasol Art Collection', Rand Afrikans University RAU
Durbanville Cultural Museum
University of Stellenbosch Gallery, Stellenbosch
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Art Scene, Cape Town
Skylight Gallery, Cape Town
'Art Salon' Cape Town
Primart Gallery, Cape Town
Constantia Village Gallery, Cape Town
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Volkskas Atelier Finalist, SAAA
Kronendal Restaurant, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1987
Cape Town Festival
Chelsea Gallery, Cape Town
Volkskas Atelier Finalist, SAAA
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1986
Volkskas Atelier Finalist, SAAA
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1985
'Tributaries - a View of Contemporary SA Art' for BMW RSA, Touring Germany
Cape Town Triennial Competition Finalist, SANG
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1984
'Masterworks on Paper' SANG, Cape Town
Gallery 21, Johannesburg
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1983
Gowlett Gallery, Cape Town
SA Contemporary Realism, Pretoria Art Museum
South African Association of Arts
Gowlett Gallery, Cape Town
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1982
Gowlett Gallery, Cape Town
Goodman Gallery, Cape Town
Cape Town Triennial
South African Association of Arts
Atlantic Art Gallery, Cape Town
1981
'Toys' The Hague, Holland
La Tertulia, Amsterdam, Holland
1980
Sheraton Hotel, Amsterdam, Holland
1979
Posthoorn, Den Haag, Holland
1978
Gallery Galjoen, S'Hertogenboch, Holland
Gallery '77, Ijsselstein, Holland
Nederlandse Fijnschilders, t'Kunsthuis, V H Ooste, Holland
Gallery Ploemp, Delft, Holland
1976
Gallery International, Cape Town
1975
Award in New Signature competition
1972
First exhibition in Diocesion College - Bishops Art Loft