​Contemporary South African Art

Article credits to http://www.bidorbuy.co.za



Martin Wenkidu is a World Renowned South African Artist.  He studied in South Africa and the UK.  He lives and works in KZN, South Africa.  His works are in collections all over the world.  The most notable collector is The Earl Castle-Steward (VP of the Peggy Guggenhein museum of modern art). Aside from art exhibitions in South Africa, his work was also exhibited in Holland, Germany, England, Avon, Hong Kong, USA (New York, Washington).

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No stranger to the art world both locally and the United States, Martin Wenkidu works with a mixed media, beginning with acrylics or tempera progressing through to oils. Being a paper-maker, Martin often includes miniature leaves or shaped and coloured paper into his highly detailed and intricate works.  His works are mostly figurative and archetypal. “There is something quite peculiar in my method, that when I am working

I am really composing, painting to me is something akin to music. Instead of simply seeing colour in a scene I hear it, inwardly

hear it” he says “Before I start on a particular work I have something like a musical composition inside me. I begin each piece with a drawing which sets the mood I am interested in, and once I start painting I’m painting these inner sounds. The work is complete once it “sounds” right, which may take anything from one week to two years. I work with a mixed media beginning with acrylics or tempera progressing through to oils and being a paper maker this usually includes various miniature leaves of shaped and coloured paper.”