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Antoine de Villiers
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Biography
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Antoine hails from a small town in the dry, northern part of South Africa. Here she developed her natural artistic skills from a very early age and subsequently studied graphic and web design at Potchefstroom University. From 1996 she devoted herself to full time painting and ran a studio in Stellenbosch. Here her career got underway exhibiting in the Western Cape area. Soon her works traveled through South Africa and during the following years, she was actively involved in several solo as well as joint art exhibitions countrywide. The end of 2000 saw Antoine traveling to the British Isles where her works in oil started gaining international recognition in galleries around Sussex. Soon she was invited to take part in joint exhibitions in London, and solo in Notting Hill. Early 2003, Antoine relocated to the United States where she is presently working on exciting new challenges.
Antoine's art is an introspectional investigation of her life and thought. Her works have ranged in style from the realistic themes to abstract works, as the stages of her life unfold itself. She finds her inspiration in her close environment, hence her love for travel, which in turn explains her wide spectrum of styles. Her great passion though, lies within expressionistic art and as one reporter aptly noted, utilizing mainly the emotionality of the female as a theme. Her work embraces the psychological relation of the various facets of a person within oneself, thus she prefers constructing emotional complexity within a solo subject. She doesn't believe in imposing rhetoric and the spoken word upon her art and thinks it should rather be experienced.
Painting has become her lifeline during trying times when the difference between the real world and abstract interpretation becomes exceedingly blurry. She expresses her analysis of life through her art and is enriched by all and everything around her.
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Statement
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My earliest memories and interests have been of art and creation. For many years I spent hours exploring my thoughts in journals until I discovered that paint allows me the freedom to articulate my ideas and feelings more clearly than by pen and paper.
In my work I seek to complement the moments I encounter. I attempt breaking down life to its visual essentials - light, dark, balance, movement, tone - and in so doing, perhaps show another perspective. I enjoy capturing the essence of a moment, also "story" by diversity of color and pattern that the eye or camera is unable to see. If somebody, while looking at my artwork, get that special feeling of something personal, I'm satisfied.
I consider a painting complete when the emotion or feeling I am trying to express match the thoughts in my mind. Often this process leaves me naked and feeling exceptionally vulnerable.
I've never experienced 'artist block' on what to paint, only the dilemma of 'what to paint next', or 'how will I ever find the time to paint all the visions going through my head.'
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Exhibitions
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Solo Exhibitions:
2003: Studio exhibit, Centerville, Indiana, U.S.A.
2002: Mook, Notting Hill, London, United Kingdom.2001: Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
The Bail Shop, Klerksdorp, South Africa.2000: Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.1999: Exchange, Melville, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
'Piece with white', Dada, Stellenbosch, South Africa.1998: Aardklop, National Arts Festival, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Mooivallei Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
1997: Dada, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Group Exhibitions:
2003: Richmond Art Museum Juried Exhibition, Richmond, Indiana, U.S.A Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A Group exhibit titled: "Lots of little Art", Artlink, Fort Wayne, Indiana U.S.A2002: LondonArt, London, United Kingdom. 2001: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
Lewis Gallery, Lewis, United Kingdom. 2000: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.1999: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.1998: Annual Interior Exhibition, George, South Africa.1997: Jaarsma Gallery, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
In Fin Art, Cape Town, South Africa.1996: Standard Bank National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Pablo's Gallery, Somerset West, South Africa.1995: Spring Show, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
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