Jean De Wet

Jean De Wet

JEAN DE WET is an illustrator who works in a range of mediums. His graphic style is characterised by an intricate, labyrinthine line work. Whilst contemporary in execution and form, this type of line is also nostalgic in its references to older relief print methods and image creation before the digital age. This formal aspect of his work extends into his subjects that embody the dualities of psychic and physical spaces, humour and tragedy, or the bittersweet.

De Wet’s illustration style was schooled by the graphics of the punk scene that he embedded himself in whilst playing in garage bands during high school. Punk’s DIY ethos continues to inspire his attitude towards productivity and creativity, giving him a fearless drive to explore mediums and formats interchangeably. He always has a number of projects in production ranging from music to painting to undefined contraptions. He observes that, “There is something beautiful about discovering something new, testing it out and finally integrating the results into the larger context of your work.” His various influences include Hieronymus Bosch, Japanese printmaking and David Shrigley.

During October and November 2019, de Wet embarked on a collection of paintings from images captured photographically but processed through a series of self-created production limitations. The resultant form of what he calls ‘graphic-impressionism’ has greatly informed his art production to date. The natural world’s impulse to mutate and evolve finds expression in this formalist framework that continually develops through his experiences.


 

SELECTED PROJECTS & EXHIBITIONS

2019 – Wildflowers, end-of-year group salon in aid of Ilitha Labantu, Salon91; Night and Day (solo), Ogun, Cape Town; Turbine Art Fair, No End Contemporary Booth, Johannesburg. 2018 – Done to Death, Alliance Francaise, Cape Town; Turbine Art Fair, No End Contemporary Booth, Johannesburg. 2017 - Secret Messages (solo), No End Contemporary, Johannesburg. 2016 – Mutiny, CTCA Gallery, Cape Town; Oracle, Salon91. 2015 - Sentient Salad (solo), The Eye, Cape Town; Stellar at Salon91. 2014 - Short Run Comics Festival, Seattle, USA; Endgame, Gallery 33, New Zealand. 2013 - Cape Town Art Fair, Salon 91 Booth; Love and Hate, Kalashnikov Gallery, Johannesburg; Expose, Warren Editions Gallery, Cape Town. 2012 - Radar, Salon91; Cartoon Network 20th Anniversary, Jett Gallery, USA; Topic of Soda (solo), A Word of Art, Cape Town. 2011 - Winter Wonderland, Salon91; Picturebook Launch, Warren Editions, Cape Town.


 

THINGS BEHIND THE SUN

20.05 - 27.06.2020

Group Exhibition

Things Behind the Sun is a group exhibition featuring the latest works of Bruce Mackay, Jean de Wet, Kirsten Beets, Maaike Bakker, Nina Torr and Tara Deacon.

This exhibition, inspired by the lyrics of Nick Drake’s song of the same name, is a playful exploration of vivacious colours, decisive lines, and undaunted expression. Things Behind the Sun as a collection of artworks, is a foil to the uncertain times the artists, and the entire world, find themselves in. Each artist, in their body of work, seeks to explore the familiar and the comforting. This group of artists has endeavoured to embrace their signature visual language and find outlets for expression during the strangeness of the current global crisis.

In Bruce Mackay’s work, the artist explores the role of boundaries as demarcations of either safety or restriction through the use of crisp lines and the depiction of cairns and other boundary markers. Jean de Wet’s works look to reflect the strangeness of our reality in works which are fantastical and, yet, familiar. In her work, Kirsten Beets seeks to express the dream-like qualities of the sun which softly illuminates scenes of longing and solitude. Maaike Bakker’s works traverse the razor edge between that which can be controlled, and that which cannot. In her work, Nina Torr looks to the cryptic world of alchemy to express a sense of mysticism. And, Tara Deacon creates seemingly familiar domestic scenes which unsettle as they intrigue.

ARTWORKS:

BRUCE MACKAY

 

JEAN DE WET

 

KIRSTEN BEETS

 

MAAIKE BAKKER

 

NINA TORR

 

TARA DEACON

 

 

INSTALLATION VIEWS:

WILDFLOWERS

07.12.2019 - 18.01.2020

 

Year-end group salon in aid of Ilitha Labantu, celebrating the diversity, beauty and resilience of women.

Opening Saturday 07 December 2019 at 11am.
Concludes 18 January 2020 at 2pm.

Exhibiting Artists:

Adele Van Heerden
Alexia Vogel
Amber Moir
Andrew Sutherland
Berry Meyer
Black Koki
Bruce Mackay
Chloe Townsend
Craig Smith
Emma Nourse
Gitte Moller
Heidi Fourie
Jade Klara
Jean de Wet
Jeanne Hoffman
Jessica Bosworth Smith
Joh Del
Katrin Coetzer
Katrine Claassens
Kirsten Beets
Kirsten Sims
Lara Feldman
Lara Meintjes
Laurinda Belcher
Lili Probart
Maaike Bakker
Mareli Esterhuizen
Marolize Southwood
Mona Haumann
Nicole Clare Fraser
Patricia Fraser
Paul Senyol
Sarah Biggs
Tara Deacon
Zarah Cassim

Since our gallery was established in 2008, we’ve maintained the tradition of hosting our annual December show, held in aid of a local charity, whereby 10% of all artwork sales have been donated to our chosen cause. This year we’ve decided to support Ilitha Labantu, an organisation which was started in Gugulethu, Cape Town, during February 1989. At that time it was the only organisation in any township of Cape Town providing emotional support, practical advice and education around the serious issue of violence against women.

Visit their website for more information.

PREVIEW:

STELLAR

05.12.15 – 23.01.2016

Stellar Show Design_Lightbox_Lo-Res
Designed by Nicole Dalton

Dear Art Lovers & Collectors,

As we reach the end of another year we would like to thank you for your loyal support, patronage & enthusiasm.

According to our annual tradition, 2015 concludes with a salon-style exhibition featuring accessible, affordable artwork across a broad range of mediums by some of Salon Ninety One’s favourite emerging and established local creatives. The exhibition is scheduled to run until the last week of January 2016. Artworks will be rotated regularly & after the opening day, works may be taken home on the day of purchase, so come treat yourself & your loved ones!

This year we will be supporting The Bookery (www.thebookery.org.za). The gallery & artists will be donating 10% of all sales towards building a library & running a creative workshop with the kids at Usasazo Secondary School in Khayelitsha. Everyone is invited to donate books – specifically Xhosa & Afrikaans language, as well as Art-related books.

Please join us on Saturday the 5th of December from 11am until 3pm for our final exhibition of 2015. It is going to be a festive day of STELLAR art, sweet treats by the lovely artist/baker Alice Toich, beer by Leopold7 and so much more…

We look forward to celebrating a truly fantastic year with our artists, friends, and clients.

Warm Regards,
Monique & The Salon Ninety One Team

 

ARTWORKS:

ADRIAAN DIEDERICKS


ALEXANDRA KARAKASHIAN


ALICE TOICH


AMBER SMITH


ANDREW SUTHERLAND


ANDRZEJ URBANSKI


BANELE KHOZA


BRUCE MACKAY


CASSANDRA LEIGH JOHNSON


CRAIG ACTUALLY SMITH


DANI LOUREIRO


EMILY JANE LONG


FRANK CONRADIE


FRANS SMIT


GABRIELLE RAAFF


GERHARD HUMAN


HAIDEE NEL


HANNO VAN ZYL


HEIDI FOURIE


JADE KLARA


JEAN DE WET


JENNY PARSONS


JOH DEL


JUAN VOGES


KIRSTEN BEETS


KIRSTEN LILFORD


KIRSTEN SIMS


LARA FELDMAN


LEIGH TUCKNISS


LIZELLE KRUGER


LIZZA LITTLEWORT


LUCY STUART-CLARKE


MAAIKE BAKKER


MARNA HATTINGH


MONA


NEILL WRIGHT


NICOLE DALTON


NINA TORR


PAUL SENYOL


PIERRE LE RICHE


RIKUS FERREIRA


RONEL DE JAGER


STEPHANE CONRADIE


TESS METCALF


UNATHI MKONTO


WILHELM SAAYMAN


ZARAH CASSIM

 

THOSE WHO WANDER

25.07 – 16.08.14

A multimedia group exhibition, which explores the wastelands, misfits & outcasts, of the artists’ imaginations & of our universe.

Featuring an incredibly gifted & unique collection of eight young South African artists:

 

Gerhard Human

Ree Treweek

Daniël du Plessis

Jade Klara

Bruce Mackay

Jean de Wet

Hanno Van Zyl

Rikus Ferreira

 

 

ARTWORKS:

 

Gerhard Human:

 

Ree Treweek:

 

Daniël du Plessis:

 

Jade Klara:

 

Bruce Mackay:

 

Jean de Wet:

 

Hanno Van Zyl:

 

Rikus Ferreira:

 

SHOPFRONT:

_____________________

 

In the Press:

those-who-wander_review_tuesday-12-august-2014_cape-times_web-friendly

Cape Times Tuesday, August 12, 2014 / Arts – Page 7

_____________________

 

Related Links:

Cape Town Blog: http://capetownblog.co.za/2014/07/11/mediterranean-delicacies-meets-those-who-wonder/

My Cape Town: http://mycapetown.co.za/news/2014/07/what-cape-town-bloggers-say-on-12-july-2014/

The Gremlinhttp://www.thegremlin.co.za/2014/07/13/cassia-at-nitida-medi-deli/

BizCommunityhttp://www.bizcommunity.com/Event/196/484/38706.html

Cape Town Tourism: http://www.capetown.travel/events/entry/mediterranean-delicacies-meets-those-who-wander

Spice4Life: http://www.spice4life.co.za/calendar-events/mediterranean-delicacies-meets-those-who-wander

What’s On: http://www.whatson..co.za/details.php?id=140454&event=Mediterranean%20Delicacies%20Meets%20Those%20Who%20Wander

KFM: http://www.kfm.co.za/events/mediterranean-delicacies-meets-those-who-wander

 

HOME IS WHEREVER I’M WITH YOU

06.12.2013 – 25.01.2014

Salon91-Dec

Home is wherever I’m with you – A large-scale group show by Salon91s favourite artists! Expect to see accessible, affordable work across a broad range of mediums by emerging local creatives. This festive season Salon91 will donate a percentage of the profits raised from the show to the Ithemba Labantwana Children’s Home.

The show will run until 25 January 2014.

Participating Artists:

Donna Solovei
Syndi Kahn
Olivie Keck
Johke
Lucie De Moyencourt
Lara Feldman
Ben Winfield
Lauren Fowler
Charisse Gardiner
Leanne Shakenovsky
Paul Senyol
Kirsten Sims
Tyrrel Thaysen
Christi du Toit
Claudette Maskell
Swain Hoogervoorst
Mieke van der Merwe
Mia Chaplin
Philippa Green
Kirsten Beets
Jade Klara
Candice Ježek
Motel 7
Elsabe Milandri
Bruce Mackay
Rikus Ferreira
Sarah Pratt
Matthew Oldfield
Gabrielle Raaff
Galia Gluckman
Hello Mr Frank (Frank Conradie)
Ludwich Olivier
Katrine Claassens
Cassandra Leigh Johnson
Gerhard Human
Caroline Mackintosh
Katrin Coetzer
Cynthia Edwards
Zelda Weber
Arnelle Woker
Jean de Wet
Elmarie van Straten
Dani Loureiro
Andrzej Urbanski
Andrew Sutherland
Adrie le Roux
Lorenzo Nassimbeni
Candace Di Talamo
Maaike Bakker
Nina Torr
Lale Guralp
Maria Lebedeva
Christopher Denovan
Christiaan Conradie
Tanja Deman
Peter Mammes
& More…

____________________________________________________

Ithemba-labantwana-info-for-bags_web

Opening:

FORMER MOUNTAINS

28.08 – 18.09.2013

former-mountains_blue-image-small

 

Featuring: Bruce Mackay, Jean de Wet, Dale Lawrence & Mike Tymbios.

‘Former Mountains’ is an exhibition which is predominantly centered around the art & medium of drawing and to some extent print. The artists have been selected to exhibit together based on a strong narrative quality, which is common to their individual practices, as well as for a unique & highly individualistic quality of line which is both present & signature to each of their styles. The artists have each taken a unique approach to the subject of ‘Former Mountains’, some presenting a number of diverse interpretations of the theme which will be depicted as smaller individual series within their greater body of work, while the other exhibiting artists have taken a more singular approach, ranging from the very literal to far-off poetic & obscure expressions.

 

EXHIBITION SHOPFRONT VIEW: 

 

Artworks: Bruce Mackay

 

Artworks: Dale Lawrence

 

Artworks: Jean de Wet

 

Artworks: Mike Tymbios

 

 

SEE ONLINE ARTICLES HERE:

 http://www.revolution-daily.com/former-mountains-exhibition/

http://www.revolution-daily.com/former-mountains-exhibition-2/

 

I’D RATHER BE SWIMMING

01.12.12 – 26.01.2013

‘I‘d Rather Be Swimming’ End of year Group Salon in association with the  I AM WATER ocean conservation trust, featuring some Salon91 favourites as well as some fresh all-new local talent.

As passionate Ocean lovers, I AM WATER, founded by champion freediver Hanli Prinsloo, strives to share the joy aquatic with as wide an audience as possible. With the help of Salon 91 water will once again take centre stage, as it should! We are all Water, and we all share the opportunity and challenge to protect our last wilderness beneath the waves. The I am Water Ocean Conservation Trust aims to do this through education and awareness, spreading the love and protection of the oceans through introducing South Africans from all walks of life to the ocean environment & important conservation issues.

Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe, best known for her beautiful swimmer sculptures, which were installed at the Sea Point Promenade until recently, will be the guest speaker at the opening.

Salon91 &  I AM WATER will be hosting a beach clean up on Sunday the 20th of January 2013 at 10:00 am. We would love for the Salon91 community & everyone who appreciates nature, art or the ocean to get involved. Please contact us on info@salon91.co.za if you would like to help out.

Artists to be participating in ‘I’d rather be swimming’:

Adam Shear
Adrie Le Roux
Alice Edy
Alice Toich
Ben Winfield
Bruce Mackay
Cameron Richards
Candace Di Talamo
Carla Kreuser
Carlo Milandri
Caroline Mackintosh
Christiaan Conradie
Clinton Osbourn
Donna Solovei
Dylan Culhane
Elsabé Milandri
Elise Wessels
Elize Vossgatter
Emalie Bingham
Emily Jane Long
Fred Clark
Gabby Raaff
Galia Gluckman
Hugh Byrne
Ian Engelbrecht
Jaco Haasbroek
Jade Klara
Jean de Wet
Johke
Jo O’Connor
Justin Southey
Katrin Coetzer
Katrine Claassens
Kirsten Beets
Kirsten Lilford
Kirsten Sims
Lara Feldman
Lisa Firer
Lorraine Loots
Lucie Demoyencourt
Lucinda Mudge
Maaike Bakker
Maria Lebedeva
Marieke Prinsloo-Rowe
Mariëtte Bergh
Marlise Keith In association with Brundyn + Gonsalves
Mia Chaplin
Michael Tymbios
Michele Rolstone
Nicola DeJager
Pascal Paquette
Paul Senyol
Rebecca Haysom
Rikus Ferreira
Rohan Etsebeth
Sarah Pratt
Shan Fischer
Simon Berndt
Susana Paez
Swain Hoogervorst
Warren Lewis
You’ve Changed
Zelda Weber
& more…

 

Artworks – selected overview:

 

Exhibit Images:

Photos by David Hecker

 

Opening night:

 

RADAR

14 – 31.03.2012

 

 

A Group Exhibition of Illustration

 

Featured Artists:

Mieke van der Merwe
Jean de Wet
Bruce Mackay
Linsey Levendall
Michael Tymbios

 

The works exhibited during the RADAR show at Salon91 include once-off originals as well as limited edition archival prints by each of the exceptionally talented & proudly local above-mentioned artists. Please enquire with the gallery about availability of works & ordering of prints… info@salon91.co.za

 

Mieke van der Merwe Artworks: 

 

Jean de Wet Artworks:

 

Bruce Mackay Artworks:

Linsey Levendall Artworks:

 

Michael Tymbios Artworks:

 

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