SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY
SUID-AFRIKAANSE NASIONALE KUNSMUSEUM
IGALARI YOBUZWE YOMZANTSI AFRIKA
An Exhibition of Works from the Permanent Collection
In a Big Country, Margaret Vorster, 1984
(Oil on canvas, 120 x 299,5 cm)
Margaret Vorster
"My interest in the feminine is coupled with my preoccupation with the nature of love - spiritual, physical, divine - and how one comes to terms with it" - Margaret Vorster, c1986.
Born: 1953, Durban.
Describes her work as an inward voyage of discovery. Creates sensuous, decorative and richly saturated colour fields. Colours, shapes and forms are never arbitrary but are carefully chosen as personal, unconventional symbols derived from Jungian concepts and literary texts. Appropriates references from history and other cultures - Persian miniatures, ancient Christian symbols, decorative Indian paintings, etc. - which are synthesized in complex dream-like fantasies. Concerned with the feminine and love as themes. Work is uplifting, optimistic, imbued with wonderment and hope, and sometimes involves a forest setting with butterflies, stylised leaves and berries.
Training:
1975-1979: University of South Africa, Pretoria [Bachelor of Arts
(Fine Art)].
1980-1984: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg [Master
of Arts (Fine Art)].
Profile:
Became a Professional Officer at the Johannesburg Art Gallery in 1982.
Lectured in the Fine Arts Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg,
for a few years from 1988. Currently lives and works in Knysna, Cape.
Solo Exhibitions:
1980: Market Gallery, Johannesburg.
1984: Karen McKerron Gallery, Johannesburg.
1987: Karen McKerron Gallery, Johannesburg.
Group Exhibitions:
1985: University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Women's Art
Festival).
South African National Gallery, Cape Town and other major
art museums in South Africa (Cape Town Triennial).
Africana Museum in Progress and the former West Germany
(Tributaries).
1987: VIII International Biennial, Valparaiso, Chile.
Major art museums in South Africa (Standard Bank National
Drawing Competition).
1988: South African Association of Arts, Pretoria (Volkskas
Atelier).
Awards:
1987: Merit Award, Standard Bank National Drawing Competition.
VIII International Biennial, Valparaiso, Chile.
1988: Standard Bank Young Artist Award.
Merit Award, Volkskas Atelier.
Collections:
South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Johannesburg Art Gallery; Pretoria Art Museum;
University of South Africa, Pretoria; University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg; Mobil Oil, South Africa.
