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JanVermeiren
Background
Jan Vermeiren is an artist whose work bridges two rich and vastly
different cultures. On the one hand there is his European heritage,
on the other, the profound influence of Africa, which is now his
home. This duality brings an exciting and unusual dimension to his
work.
Jan was born in Bornem, Belgium in 1949. From a very early age
drawing was an important means of expression for him and he began
formal art training while still at school. Later he studied full
time at the Academy St. Niklaas and the Academy of Mechelen, and
then at the National Hoger Institute in Antwerp.
As a student, printmaking was his special interest, and it was
only when he moved to South Africa in 1976 that he became a painter.
His decision to move came after he had spent a year in the country
during 1973/4 when he was invited to teach lithography. He was
profoundly influenced by the extensive range of colours which he
found here, after the relative greyness of Belgium. These 'African'
colours are very evident in his work - both in the early tones, and
in the dark, atmospheric backgrounds, which appears in his more
recent work.
Although his ties in Europe are still strong, Jan feels that his
work is now more African in nature. For him, the experience of
Africa is one of finding his connection with primitive man, of
getting to the roots of his origins. His 'African' phase has been
greatly inspired by Bushmen rock paintings, which he sees as our
link with primitive man.
His work is an expression not of outer reality, but of the
subconscious, and it is this instinctive approach that gives his
paintings their special dreamlike, spiritual quality. He asks the
viewer to react on the same subconscious and spontaneous level, both
to the form and content of his work. Form, he finds, evokes deep
inner feelings within people, as does the use of colour and light.
His images reveal a series of archetypal symbols derived from
various ancient cultures, reflecting his belief that it is these
'primitive' symbols that unite man across time and different
civilisations. His aim is to bring the viewer into the spirit of
Africa, to encourage a better understanding of the African identity.
The Dictionary of South African Painters and Sculptors - Grania
Ogilvie
VERMEIREN Jan Born 1949 Bornem, Belgium.
Resided in SA from 1975.
An artist working in oil, lithography, etching and mural
painting.
Studies
- 1968-71 Koninklijke Academic voor Schone Kunsten en de Hogere
Instituten, Antwerp, Belgium;
- 1971 engraving, on a study bursary, in Belgrade,
Yugoslavia;
- 1971-74 Koninklijke Academic voor Schone Kunsten en de Hogere
Instituten, Antwerp, Belgium, where attained a Degree in Graphic
Art.
Profile
- 1976-81 a committee member of the SAAA, Cape Town
Branch;
- 1982-85 a committee member of the Artists Guild.
- Numerous illustrations for books, children's books and
periodicals.
- 1973-74 a guest lecturer in lithography in the Cape.
- 1979-81 a part-time lecturer at the University of Stellenbosch;
- 1981-87 a lecturer at the Cape Technikon.
- 1968-75 lived in Antwerp.
- 1987 visited Belgium.
Exhibitions
- He has participated in numerous group exhibitions from 1969
held in Belgium, Yugoslavia, SA, the USA, West Germany and SWA/Namibia;
- 1969 Dendermonde, Belgium, first of three solo exhibitions
held in Belgium and 11 in SA;
- 1981 Republic Festival Exhibition;
- 1985 Tributaries, touring SA and West Germany.
- Represented Durban Art Gallery; National Museum, Bloemfontein;
Pretoria Art Museum; Sterckshof Museum, Antwerp, Belgium;
University of the Orange Free State.
Represented
- Durban Art Gallery; National Museum, Bloemfontein;
Pretoria Art Museum; Sterckshof Museum, Antwerp, Belgium;
University of the Orange Free State.
Public Commissions
- 1979 Bacchus mural, De Waal Hotel, Cape Town;
- 1983 Fantasia mural, Drama Theatre, University of the Orange
Free State.
Reference
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