rural life

SolomonSiko

Biography

Born, 1965 in Sakkieskamp, Wellington.

Siko's artistic consciousness was formed in the aftermath of the Soweto uprising in 1976. He participated in the first free and democratic elections in 1994. In these years, Siko underwent an intense self-examination as he searched for a viable way to be South African and also a part of the world.

This is a excerpt from the 2005 Cape Gallery Solomon Siko invitation, written by Gail Dorje:

Siko's vibrant paintings on heavily textured and engraved board are the theatre for a richly imaginative portrayal of 'Street Life'. Siko loves to sketch the world around him. He combines these sketches in his larger studio pieces. The integration of his different sketches requires that he be fully articulate in the visual language he chooses. Humour is a positive force in our multicultural society: Siko, with his real gift for caricature, is still gentle in his application.

Solomon Siko studied Art at C.A.P. (Community Arts Project) in Woodstock, Cape Town from 1987 to 1989. Siko has displayed his work at The Cape Gallery since 1992.

Siko, as Peter Clarke says, was born with a powerful creative drive. He is a man of integrity and one who does not take his impressive talent for granted. He walks a difficult path in redefining values with care. He upholds the precept of 'Ubuntu' - that is a mutual respect for another's culture. Siko, as a respected member of his community, has also become a cultural envoy for South Africa, with his works owned by people nationally as well as internationally.

Resumé 

• 1993-94 Associated with the Paarl Arts and Crafts Groups. 
• 1992 Designed tapestries for the Babatane Spinners and Weavers. 
• 1991 Started to work as an artist full time. 
• 1987-89 Studied Art at C.A.P. in Woodstock (Cape Town Community Arts.) 
• 1986 Worked as a Labourer on the Du Toits Kloof Tunnel (Concor Hochtief) 
• 1985 Kuyaza High School, Dimbaza Ciskei. 
• 1980-84 Simon Hebe High School in Paarl.

Solo Exhibitions 

• 1998 The Cape Gallery. 
• 1996 The Cape Gallery. 
• 1994 Police College, Paarl. Auto Atlantic Gallery, Cape Town. 
• 1993 Fleur Gallery Wellington. 
• 1990 Oude Pastorie Museum, Paarl.

Group Exhibitions 

• 2005 
  The Group Exhibition “Encompass” at the Cape Gallery 
• 1998 
  Ubuntu Exhibition, Cape Gallery, Diemersfontein. 
  Lisbon ' 98. Music and Art - Bang Gallery. 
• 1998 
  Bayerische Hypothekenbank, Hamburg 
  Galerirforum Sparkasse, Elmshorn
  Bayerische Hypothekenbank, Hanover
  HypoVereinsbank, Rostock. 
• 1997 
  Kaapse Landing by die Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees Oudtshoorn
• 1997 
  Rust en Vrede, Cape Town 
  Laanrust Gallery, Paarl 
  Bien Donne, Paarl. 
• 1997 
  Theodore Heuss Akademie, Friedrich-Naumann-Sstiftung, Gummersbach, 
  Zundholzfabrik, Friedrich - Naumann-Stiftung, Lauenburg, 
  Kanzlei RWWD, Hamburg, 
  Sudafrika-Woche, Dresdner Bank, Lubeck, 
• 1996 
  Art against Apartheid Exhibition, S.A. Parliament, Paarl. 
  Gallery DG HYP Wintergarten, Hamburg, 
  Generalkonsulat der Republik Sudafrica, Hamburg, 
  Prolinguis Sprachenclub, Hamburg, 
• 1995 
  South African Association of Arts, Cape Town, 
  The Cape Gallery, 
  Parliament Chambers, 
  Volkskas Bank Atelier Award Finals Exhibition, 
  Sasol Art Museum, 
  University of Stellenbosch, 
  Bright hues and Jewellery, Alfred Mall Gallery Waterfront, 
• 1994 
  Fleur Gallery, Wellington, 
  Nederberg Farmers winery, Paarl, 
  Association of Arts Pretoria, 
• 1993 
  Life Trust Art Centre, Paarl, 
  Villeria Wine Estate, Simondium, 
  Cape Gallery, Cape Town, 
• 1992 
  Oude Pastorie, Paarl, 
  South African Association of Arts, Cape Town, 
  Clan William Art Gallery, Clanwilliam, 
• 1991 
  Veld and Vlei Gallery, Paarl, 
• 1990 - 93 
  Daljosafat Art Foundation Summer Shows.
  Jane se Kunshuis Summer Shows. 
• 1990 
  Cape Trienials, Cape Town, 
• 1988 
  University of Westville, Durban. 
  "Eye of an Artist" Italian Embassy, Cape Town. 
• 1987 
  St. Georges Cathedral, Cape Town.

Public Collections 

• Engen, Cape Town. 
• Cape of Good Hope Bank, Cape Town. 
• Community Arts Project, Woodstock, Cape Town. 
• Westville University, Durban. 
• Centre for African Studies, U.C.T. 
• University of Western Cape, 
• Mercantile and General/ Swiss Re-Life,
• A.B.S.A. Bank.

Commissions

• Engen, Cape Town. 
• Cape of Good Hope Bank. 
• Lutheran Church Bellville. 
• Juta Publishers Ltd.

Publications

• Botaki, exhibition 2, written by Mario Pissarra for Old Mutual Asset Managers, 2005 
• Tribute, December 1996, 
• Mercantile and General/Swiss Life Annual Financial Report 1995, 
• Max Mai 1997, Hamburg, 
• S.A. Contemporary Arts Directory 1997.