// Gerhard Human

//Artist Bio

Gerhard Human was born in 1980 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He studied graphic design and applied arts and graduated from the Technikon in Pretoria in 2002. His works functions as insightful windows into the disjunct of human nature. Human currently works as a creative director at the animation studio Masters and Savant. He has exhibited in galleries in South Africa, Amsterdam, New York and Sydney and is published online and in print.

// Artist’s statement

Most of my work plays on the notion of desolation, but with a strong underline mood of uncertainty and exploration. Throughout my life I’ve been drawn to areas of uncertainty and I believe now that the process of seeking answers is often much more in line with our humanity than finding the answers.

A big part of this process involves mark making. Religious and ritualistic groups often use patterns and designs on a large scale. Attaching a great deal of emotion to their visual language. Through the course of history this too have been used as tools to confuse and manipulate naïve followers. Juxtaposing recognizable motives with modern political and cultural ideologies conveys across the absurdities of some of these issues. I don’t claim to have the answers to much of the problems but I hope through my work to point out the common ignorance around us through the subtleties of culture.

My landscape work depicts scenes of desolation and harsh terrain. The unfriendly nature of giant rock formations and hard geography has an opposite effect on the visitor though. Great thinkers throughout history often chose the desert as a space to think and find clarity. I want to capture the essence of his landscape that has such a profound effect on our psyche. Strong colour and opposing hues are used to simplify but still retain severity. Detail becomes textural and softens in it’s complexity. I feel compelled to capture these ancient giant rocks and render them in a way that conveys the feeling that I was left with.

//Artist CV

2015

BLEEDING EDGE (Group Show) - Compagnietheater, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 7 - 11 Oct
PAST FUTURES (Group Show) - Salon91, Kloof St, Cape Town - 4 Nov
BROKEN MONSTERS CHARITY EXHIBITION (Group Show) - Book Dash, Cape Town

2014

PROJECT SPACE LAUNCH (Group Show) - Erdmann Contemporary, Kloof Str, Cape Town - 18 Apr
GODDO SUPIIDO (Group Show) - The House of Machines, Cape Town - 6June
THOSE WHO WANDER (Group Show) - Salon91, Kloof St, Cape Town - 25 July
GRAF/LIT: Urban Interiors (Group Show) - Youngblood Gallery - 70 Bree Str, Cape Town - 23 Sept
GRAPHIC RADICALS (Group Show) - AMAK, 11 Atlantic Rd, Muizenberg - 3 Oct
ABSA VUKA (Group Show) - Woodstock, Cape Town, 28 Nov

2013

INANIMATE OBJECT (Solo Show), WOLVES, Joburg - 1 Feb - 15 Mar
DOORS OF PERCEPTION (Group Show)- 23 May, Revolution, Cape Town
ONE IN A MILLION (Group Show) - 24 June, Salon91, Cape Town
THE EDITIONS SHOW (Group Show) - 24 July, Salon91, Cape Town
THE SHINING GIRLS ART SHOW (Group Show)- 6 Sept, CT School of Photography, Cape Town
VERB: LOST + FOUND (Group Show) - 28 Nov, Revolution Warehouse, Woodstock, Cape Town
PAPER CUTS (Group Show) - The Cabinet (64a Wale Str, Cape Town) - 5 Dec
THE PATH LESS DECONSTRUCTED (Group Show) - M Contemporary, Sydney, Australia - 12 Dec

2012

LOCALS ONLY (Group exhibition), Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town
SKATEBOARDING IS A CRIME (Solo Exhibition), Clarke's, Cape Town
INANIMATE OBJECT (Solo exhibition), Searle Street Post, Cape Town - 14 June
DIE SKIM GROT (Group Exhibition), Hatfield, Pretoria.
INANIMATE OBJECT (Solo exhibition), Upstairs, Durban - 2 July
WAVESCAPE (Group Exhibition), NY

Earlier

2007 - PAUSED (Group exhibition), Platform on 18th, Pretoria
2010 - BASTER REPUBLIC (Group exhibition), Pretoria