Artist's statement:

"Bleak is part of a series called Blank which I made in 2003. The body of work consisted of sculptures resembling black sheep and pale tapestries reminiscent of traditional landscapes by Pierneef and Hugo Naudé. My intention was to create an interactive sculpture which explored the relationship between the two sculptural entities

Blank is a satirical body of work based on re-evaluation of the Afrikaner in a democratic society. The work addressed the Afrikaner youth's disenchantment with a disingenuous cultural heritage by exploring issues of guilt and ignorance."

Bleak was the winning entry in the Absa L'Atelier in 2003 and has sparked a variety of interpretations. The soft parody offers an amusing quality in contrast to its social content.

Biography:

Gender: Female
Age: 30
Nationality: South African
Education: BA.FA at the University of Stellenbosch (1997)
Occupation: Full-time artist and designer
June 2000 - March 2004: lectured at the Cape College in Graphic Processes, two-dimensional design and drawing

Contact: P.O. Box 1062, Cape Town, 8000, South Africa
                   tel: 082 672 6795 / (021) 4244 983
                   fax: (021) 447 1971
                   e-mail: sanell@polka.co.za

Exhibitions (Group shows)

     2005: 'Sweet Nothings', new photographic work, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town
     2004: '40 Years', University of Stellenbosch, Sasol Art Museum
     2004: '2nd Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennial', Stellenbosch
     2003: 'Picnic', Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town
     2003: Brett Kebble Art Awards
     2003: 'ABSA L'Atelier', Johannesburg
     2003: 'YDESIRE', Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town
     2002: 'Autogeographie', Millennium Gallery, Johannesburg
     2002: 'Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennial', Jan Marais Nature Reserve, Stellenbosch
     2001: 'Micro/Macro', South African Printmakers at the Xchanges Gallery, Victoria, British Columbia (Canada)
     2001: 'ABSA L'Atelier', Johannesburg.
     2001: 'Aarsel/ Waver', KKNK, Oudshoorn
     1998: Short listed for the '15th Royal Overseas League Annual Open Exhibition', U.K.

Solo Shows

     2005: 'Fool's Gold', Bell-Roberts Contemporary, Cape Town (SA)
     2005: 'Hoogwater/High Tide', KKNK, Oudtshoorn (SA)
     2003: 'Blank', AVA Gallery, Cape Town (SA)
     2001: 'From a Netherworld', Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town (SA)
     2000: 'Northern Ladies', Art Konsult, New Delhi, India
     1998: 'An Imitator', AVA Metropolitan Gallery, Cape Town (SA)

Other

     2005 : Curator: 'Sweet Nothings', Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town
     2005 : Nominated for a Kanna Award, KKNK
     2003 : Winner of the 2003 ABSA L'Atelier
     2003 : Winner in the Anglo Gold Riches of Africa Design Competition. (merit award for most original design)
     1999-2000: Selected for the UNESCO-Aschberg Residency programme at the Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India
     1998 : Merit award winner in the 'New Signatures'', Bellville Art Centre

Publications

     2004: 2nd Spier Sculpture Biennale Catalogue
     2004: Sasol Art Museum, University of Stellenbosch
     2003: ABSA L'Atelier
     2003: Art South Africa: vol. 02, issue 01; page 14
     2002: Spier Sculpture Biennale Catalogue

Reviews

     Die Burger, 5 November 2001
     Die Burger, 2 June 2003
     Artthrob, June 2003: "...the work is exquisitely crafted and produced. It represents a major change of tact...
               demonstrating a remarkable agility and versatility." - Paul Edmunds
     Mail & Guardian, 6 February 2004: " (the works) are revealed as a perfect South African articulation of culture and environment." - Chris Roper
     Art South Africa, vol. 02, issue 03, 2004 (page 67) " Aggenbach has used the symbolic language of white leisure and suburbia
               and made a piece that is both humorous and politically astute." - Andrew Lamprecht

Collections

     Various private collections locally and abroad.
     Corporate collections include:
          Spier Collection
          Anglo Gold South Africa
          Hollard Collection
          Sasol Collection