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About Helena
Helena is an Artist with SouthAfricanArtists.com based in South Africa.
Helena prefers working in oil and charcoal and more recently pastels and specializes in the painting and drawing of the figure and the portrait. Her paintings and drawings are executed in a detailed realistic manner.
In her work, especially the nude figures, she tries to express the impermanence of the human body. She sees the body as a temporary dwelling for our timeless spirits. She tries never to idealize a figure but to paint it as imperfect as it is, not giving too much attention to the surface of the skin, but emphasizing bone, tendon, muscle and whatever lies beneath the skin. By doing so she tries to explore the search for an escape from human vulnerability and decay, the longing for a healing or saving force and ultimately, the obtaining of immortality.
In her portraits she tries to give significance to the people she paints .She often paints people who are taken for granted or ignored, depicting them in their working clothes and by this bringing to the viewers attention the importance of every work and the role it plays in a society. She tries to convey their hardships but also to elevate their labor and struggle to have significance beyond this earthly sphere, expressing the essential purity of a simple and very poor life.
In a continent where unemployment is a very real problem, she wants to bring under the viewer’s attention the importance of work for survival, but also for psychological well being. Work can give a person dignity and the idea to do one’s work to the best of one’s capability can elevate even the simplest of jobs to something to be admired.
Price Range
US$77-4,365
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Exhibitions
2011:
Solo exhibition, “Portret”, Klein Karoo Kunste Fees, Oudsthoorn
“Skilder met woorde II”, Klein Karoo Kunste Fees, Oudsthoorn
“Recent Acquesitions Art Exhibition”, UNISA, Pretoria
“Altered Pieces” Thompson Gallery, Johannesburg
2010:
Solo exhibition, SAatWork, University of Johannesburg Gallery
“Skilder met woorde II” Aardklop Arts Festival, Potchefstroom
“Woman at Work”, The Gallery at Duncan Yard, Pretoria
“Art Alive” Waterkloof Preparatory School, Pretoria
“Source”, Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg
“42nd Summer Exhibition”, Strydom gallery, George
“Oppitafel 20(10)”, Artspace, Johannesburg
2009 : Solo exhibition, Tina Skukan Gallery, Pretoria / “St Sebastian”, Art Association, Pretoria / “Easter Exhibition”, Tina Skukan Gallery, Pretoria / “Justified Jotting”, Magpie, Pretoria / ABSA l'Atelier, ABSA towers, Johannesburg / “Working Portraits”, Witrivier Gallery, Witrivier / “Art Alive” Waterkloof Preparatory School, Pretoria / “Enigma” , Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg / “41st Summer Exhibition”, Strydom Gallery, George
2008 : Solo exhibition, “KZNatWork”, KZNSA Gallery, Durban / “Metaphor”, Carol Lee Fine Art, UpstairsatBamboo, Johannesburg / “A Thin Line” Platform on 18th, Pretoria / “Expression”, Carol Lee Fine Art, UpstairsatBamboo / Mid year Christmas show, Gordart gallery, Johannesburg / “Art Alive” Waterkloof Preparatory School, Pretoria / “Reflect Refuel” Art Association, Pretoria / “Catpals Art Auction", Art Association, Pretoria / “Centenary exhibition”, University of Pretoria
2007 : “Art Alive” Waterkloof Preparatory School / Opening exhibition, The Secret Gallery, Pretoria / “Hot chocolate”, Platform on 18 , Pretoria / Eukurhuleni fine arts award, Kempton Park/Tembisa, (top ten) / “Evidence”, Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg / “Woman’s exhibition”, The Secret Gallery, Pretoria / Group exhibition, Magpie, Pretoria
2006 : Group Exhibitions: / Opening exhibition, Platform on 18th, Pretoria / "Woman", Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg / Mystery Portrait Postcard Auction, National Portrait Gallery London / "Positive",Sun City / Absa Atelier, ABSA Towers, Johannesburg / New Signatures,Pretoria Art Museum / "Current", Carol Lee Fine Art. / Group exhibition, Tina Skukan Gallery, Pretoria
2005 : Group exhibitions: Group exhibition, The Art Room. Umhlanga Rocks / "Catpals art auction" Art Association, Pretoria / "Sasol New Signatures" Pretoria Art Museum / BP Portrait Award 2005, National Portrait Gallery, London. Travel to Sunderland Museum, Winter Gardens and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. / "Art Alive" Waterkloof Preparatory School, Pretoria / Fine Arts Awards, Kempton Park/Tembisa / "Artists from Pretoria" Carol Lee Fine Art, Johannesburg / "Far and Wide" ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg
2004 : Group exhibitions: "For the record/off the record", Gordart at Thompson gallery, Johannesburg; Aardklop, Potchefstroom / Group exhibition, Bohemia house gallery, Tunbridge Wells / "Intuitive Thought", Stewart gallery, Johannesburg / Woman's day exhibition, Rust-en-Vrede gallery, Durbanville / CatPals Art Auction, Association of arts, Pretoria / "Sale 30 x 30", US Art gallery, Stellenbosch / "Recent Work", Carol lee fine art, Upstairs at Bamboo, Johannesburg / Christmas exhibition, Association of Arts, Pretoria
2003 : Joint Exhibition, "Encaged" with Nicky Leigh. RAU Art Gallery, Johannesburg
Group Exhibitions "Repositioning" RAU Gallery, Johannesburg / "Herfsverhale" Tina Skukan Gallery, Pretoria / Cetshwayo KaMpande National Portrait Competition. Tatham Art Gallery, Petermaritzburg. / "Art Alive" Waterkloof Preparatory School, Pretoria / Miniature Exhibition. Articles and Frames, Pretoria; / "Femina 2003", Association of Arts, Pretoria / Christmas Exhibition, Gordart, Johannesburg / Group show, Stewart Gallery, Johannesburg
Education
Fine Arts degree at the University of Pretoria
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