Alexis Preller (1911 - 1975). A major exhibition of this South African artist is currently at the Norval Foundation in Constantia.
Some artists and their artwork remain outside of classification – they are not of their time; they stand uniquely on their own. Alexis Preller created a body of work that encapsulates this. His artwork is rooted in Africa – but it is not a familiar Africa of mountain and sky – he goes back millenia to ancient Egyptian writings as well as iconic and traditional African figurines. With these building blocks he created works that are symbol rich and multi-layered. Symbolism played a significant role in the development of modern twentieth century art – its power lay in the fact that meaning was not defined by the visible work – meaning was hidden and the key to the meaning resided in the use of symbols. Preller said that his work was not meant to reflect Surrealism – the artistic movement where reality itself constantly shifted, where dreams carried equal weight with daily living. Yet, his work does have a dream-like quality where the viewer is required to stop and engage meaningfully in order to access the dream- scape. Contact me if you would like to experience personalised and niche tours that go beyond the mundane. Where I am able to engage with my guests and they with me in a manner that goes beneath the surface. #preller #arttours #bespoketours # personalizedtours #topcapetowntours #capetowntours
@shaheensoni sharing thoughts on the differences between figurative art and traditional Islamic art. The chief difference lies in the approach of the viewer and the purpose of the work - in figurative at it is the subject of the work and our response to it that is important . In Islamic art the work provides a reflective space in which God/Allah can be reached. This concept is not solely rooted in Islamic art - think about the beautiful religious books written in calligraphy many centuries ago. Recall the religious Reformation where groups of people believed that sculptures and art works needed to be removed as they interfered with the connection with God. Beauty, however, remains central to Islamic art - beauty takes is to another place where we can more easily reach out to God/Allah. #beautifulart #heritagetours, #historytours #personalisedtours #nichetours
@shaheensoni talking about the purpose of beauty in Islamic art and the role of the artist. Part of the Athlone history tour that I was privileged to host.
Tanagra is a unique boutique wine farm just outside the village of McGregor. The climate and unique geography ensures that Tanagra wines are outstanding. Annette and Rob formerly from Germany do everything themselves from the growing to vinification process. Here Annette is explaining her philosophy to wine-making - low yield grapes to make high quality, distinctive wines. An added bonus is that they practice sustainable farming. For information about exclusive and personalised tourism visits please contact me
There’s always something happening in the jewel of McGregor - a small village in the Little Karoo. This is First Friday where you can browse local art while listening to musicians and enjoying fresh local cuisine and lovely wines from the surroundings. Come for a day visit or stay for a few days - you won’t be disappointed! Contact me for more exclusive tourism tips or for info about my services.
We offer tailormade wine, art and history experiences. We love sharing the unique and little known.
