Elmie Smit Gallery 2.83

Elmie Smit
Painter/ artist

[Note - Elmie is not on facebook yet - this page currently serves only as a space to view her work. To reach her, please call or whatsapp her 0728330291 or mail elmiesmit@gmail.com]

ELMIE SMIT
ARTIST PROFILE
‘Art is not a profession but a path towards truth and self-realisation’

This philosophical statement about Tantric art has been at the centre of my own art journey for the past twenty seven years.

I was born September 21, 1959 in Springs, South Africa. In that same year March 30, the 13th Dalai Lama fled from Tibet to India where he currently lives as a refuge. This event led to the Western world gaining access to much more mystical knowledge and new way of seeing/being.

My father worked as a veterinarian for the Pretoria National Zoological Gardens and also ran his own private practice. This amazing world of wild African and domestic animals has had a formative influence on me and remains a passion.

My Afrikaans background stretches back to 1672 from Dutch/German and later French Hugenot descent. Both my maternal and paternal families were Voortrekkers and who also fought in the Boer War’s of 1880-81 and 1899-1902.

Childhood holidays were mostly spent on my grandparents farm outside Potgietersrust. The Bushveld from Pretoria right up to Mussina is my true heartland. The Bushveld and its many nations/tribes has awakened my love and admiration for Africa, its diversity and creative inventiveness.

At age thirty I moved from Pretoria tot Cape Town and worked for a year as a scenic painter at the Cape Performing Arts Board.

From Cape Town I went moved to Darling and lived there for twenty three years. My son, Daniel was born and raised there.

Recently I have moved further up to the West-Coast to Elandsbay with my new husband, Mel Burger. He is also a artist/painter. We live in a strawbale house that he build.

Everything I draw or paint is of a particular time,season or experience. My inner and outer world flow together and I find delight in how the ordinary can become extraordinary. Colour and pattern are predominant in most of my still-lifes.

Since my childhood I have observed and admired African printed cloth. It is a constant in my paintings from Shweshwe to Kuba cloth from the Congo, to everyday Kangas that are worn all over Africa.

To quote the words of Georges Adeagbo from Benin (one of my favourite artists):
‘Art but what is art? Art is a way of talking. It is a way of walking. It’s a way of showing things to people in an indirect manner…..Art on the whole is a way of talking,a way of doing, a way of living among people”.
Media: . Oil on canvas/board
. Drawings in mixed media
. Collage and assemblage of found objects.

My love of art is varied and broad but, artists I relate to in essence are:
Giotto
Matisse
Georgia O’Keeffe
Craigie Aitchison
Abstract tantric art and Indian miniatures
Outsider art
Aboriginal art/Western desert movement (Australia)
Yoko Ono
Shirin Neshat
African Music

CRONOLOGY
Only essential art exhibitions and related activities mentioned. I have taken part yearly in many exhibitions from 1987 up till now.
1959: Born in Springs Gauteng, South Africa.
1965 – 1968: Primary school: Laerskool Villeria, Pretoria
1968 – 1971 : Primary school: Laerskool Totiusdal, Pretoria
1972 – 1977: High School: Hoerskool Oos-Moot, Pretoria
1979 – 1982: BA (Fine Arts) University of Pretoria
1982,1987,1988: New Signature Exhibition (SA Association of Art Pretoria)
1988: Volkskas Atellier Competition (1 painting accepted and exhibited)
1989: Volkskas Atellier Competition (1 painting accepted and exhibited)
1990: Moves to Cape Town Gardens
1990: (April-Dec) Scenic Artist for Cape Performing Arts Board
1992: Moves to Darling Western – Cape
2000 – 2006: Teach art at Evita se Perron and Darling College, Primary School
2003: ‘Four Darling Painters’ Exhibition at Groote Post Wine estate with Nicolaas Maritz, Nina van der Westhuizen and Jean Beeton
2008: ‘The Fabric of Africa’ first solo exhibition at Cloof wine estate Darling
2009: Group Exhibition, !Khwattu San Cultural Centre with Jean Beeton, Sandy Esau,Andrew Munnik, Nicolaas Maritz and Nina van der Westhuizen
2014: Open a gallery called ‘Darling Gallery’
2014:’Butterflies and Funky Junk’ second solo exhibition, Darling Gallery
2015: Sanlam Potrait Exhibition.(100SA artists)
1 Painting accepted “Mel and his painting, Jazz”
2016: Move to a new home in Elandsbay. Duinestreet 20