‘Clifton Beach’, Acrylic on Canvas, 180cm by 70cm.
HLUMELA DYANTYI
Tokai artist Andrew Cooper will hold his first solo exhibition a The Studio Art Gallery, in Simon’d Town from today Thursday November 28, to Wednesday December 18.
Unspoilt attempts to capture the bare essence of natural gems such as Clifton Beach, Table Mountain, Oudekraal Cove, Sea Point tidal pool, he says.
‘Afternoon sparkle,’ Scarborough, Acrylic on Canvas, 120cm by 90cm.
“The driving theme behind my work is to remind viewers how precious and fragile our natural environment is, hence the title of this exhibition Unspoilt. My paintings have generally showcased the beauty and splendour of our mountains and sea, especially in the Western Cape.”
“My wish is for us all to cherish and protect these unspoilt areas.”
But many of these attractions, he warns, are threatened by population growth and human activity, and he dreams of seeing them restored to their former glory.
“We live in a beautiful country, let our children and visitors enjoy it as we have done for generations to come.”
According to his bio on the gallery’s website, Cooper tries to draw the viewer into his work through his use of “fine detail, rich colour and expansive vistas”. He paints from memory and photographs that he has taken himself.
Apart from a few childhood years in Scotland and England, Cooper calls Cape Town home. He has been painting professionally since 1987.
Cooper has participated in many group exhibitions, often at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden over the years and has donated paintings at auction fund-raisers for causes such as Shark Spotters in Muizenberg, Cape Leopard Trust, Baboon Matters and Parkscape.
In 2017, Cooper saw the publication Edition 1, a hard-cover coffee table book of his work. Visit his website at https://cooperart.co.za/index.php for more about his work.
The exhibition opening is on Saturday, November 30, at 5.30 pm. The studio Art Gallery at the Harbour Bay Centre on the corner of Main Road and Dido Valley Road, Simon’s Town, is open Tuesdays to Sundays, from 9 am to 5 pm.
Call 021 786 945 or email admin@studioartgallery.co.za