There are three new exhibitions at the Stellenbosch University Museum – these exhibitions focus on artists or collections from the University Museum's archive that have not been seen for some time.
The first is an exhibition of works by Oskar Kokoschka (1886–1980). Kokoschka was an Austrian artist best known for his expressionistic paintings, particularly portraits and landscapes. On exhibition is the Marrakesh series from the University Collection – this is a series of lithographs that Kokoschka produced after a trip to Morocco in 1965. Oskar Kokoschka's work is typical of early 20th century German Expressionism and he is ranked among the greatest modern artists of the Austrian school. Oskar Kokoschka's artworks are represented in many of the world's great art museums.
The second is an exhibition of artworks by Nel Erasmus (1928- ). Nel Erasmus is known for being one of South Africa's earliest abstract artists. She studied Fine Arts at Wits and in the early 1950's spent time in France and was influenced by post-war abstraction in Paris. She studied at the Academie Ranson, Ecole des Beaux Arts and the Sorbonne and exhibited her work for the first time in Paris in 1955. Her first solo exhibition in South Africa was in 1957 and she has since received critical acclaim for her work in more than 30 solo exhibitions. This exhibition features a selection of artworks from different periods of her career, offering us a good opportunity to trace her artistic development from the early cubist inspired works from the 1950's to her energetic figurative paintings and drawings from the 1980's and 1990's. Nel Erasmus is in her late 80's and is still painting today.
Last is an exhibition from the University's Johannes Meintjes Collection. Johannes Meintjes (1923-1980) studied painting under Florence Zerffi and was also a prolific author - he wrote novels, essays and plays including historical material about South Africa. His wife Ronell, who died in 1996, left some 80 paintings to the Stellenbosch University Museum. Meintjes had a close affinity with Maggie Laubser – as a young man he wrote her a fan letter after which they developed a life-long friendship. He published a book on Maggie Laubser when he was just 21 years old, after completing a BA degree at the University of Cape Town. His paintings are now fittingly exhibited in the same exhibition hall that had previously been used to show Maggie Laubsers work. The three exhibitions will be on show until the end of August 2017.
The University Museum is located at 52 Ryneveld Street, Stellenbosch. The Museum is open from Monday to Saturday at 09:00-16:30 and is closed on Sundays and public holidays. Entrance to the Museum is free.
