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About The Artist

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Artist Biography

Collin Cole, born in Johannesburg on 25 May 1960, graduated from the Natal Technikon with a National Diploma in Fine Art and later obtained a Masters (cum laude) in Fine Art from Rhodes University. Collin began his solo career in 2000 and in addition to holding four solo exhibitions, has participated in 140 local and international group exhibitions and competitions to date.

In 2003, Collin established a private teaching facility, the BLUE DOOR PRINT STUDIO, to teach artists and anyone with a serious desire but outside of the often-restricted formal educational institutions, the opportunity to learn professional printmaking. After obtaining his Masters degree in Printmaking, Collin was a university lecturer for 14 years and taught at the Rhodes University School of Fine Art (1984 – 1986), the University of Bophuthatswana (1986 – 1994) and at the University of North West (1994 – 1999). Here, he primarily taught various printmaking techniques including Serigraphy, Intaglio, Relief printing, Off- Set Lithography as well as all associated photomechanical processes, from first year to masters’ level. He also taught History of Art, visual communication and techniques so that the student has the opportunity to create images that result in traditional limited edition prints.

Artist Statement

My work is a response to and a reflection of situations and events that occur to and around me.

The work includes personal myths and a strong social narrative.

In my creative work I am interested in exploring the relationship we have to life situations that occur around us, both on a personal level as well as the greater external forces that impact on our reality.

I work in most media i.e. paint, sculpture, printmaking and the digital form which allows me the opportunity to explore using my iconography the intrinsic qualities of each of the media.

I have of late been working extensively in the medium of printmaking using transfer collage both on paper and on plate, dry point, aquatint and hard ground etching.

I am using images that were once impactful and “hard faced” in a historical context. Through the use of my media I am attempting to reawakening the poignant reality of past historical images and contrast them with new contemporary images thus drawing relevant parallels to the cycles of history as swell as situations. It is the idea of the circle with a centre principle where history and events have a way of repeating themselves in a cyclic manor.

The centre of the circle being us and represents the cause and effect of our realities.

Artist CV

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING:

1978 Matriculated: Kingsway High School – Natal

1980 – 1983 Natal Technikon NDP FA

1987 – 1988 University North West BAFA (Part Time)

1989 – 1994 Rhodes University MFA

CAREER HISTORY:

1999 – present Artist / Art Consultant

1994 – 1999 University North West: Lecturer Dept of Fine Art

1986 – 1994 University Bophuthatswana Lecturer Dept of Fine Art (Printmaking)

1984 - 1986 Rhodes University School of Fine Art (Lecturer)

EXHIBITIONS:

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

  • Rhodes University – November 1992
  • Stewart Gallery – May 2001
  • Stewart Gallery – September 2003
  • Amoeba Gallery – October 2008
  • David Brown Fine Art Gallery – (Launch of the Blue Door Studio) – May 2009

    GROUP SHOWS: 140 Group exhibitions (1982 – 2013)

  • Art Lovers 1932 (Alice in Wonderland 150 Group exhibition)
  • UJ Art Gallery (Tom Waits For No Man Group exhibition)
  • Sandton Civic Gallery (Printmaking exhibition)
  • Gallery 567
  • NSA University
  • Univerisity of Pietermaritzburg
  • Natal University
  • Cafe Gallery
  • Elizabeth Gordon Gallery
  • Gallery 21
  • Everead Read Gallery
  • Human Science Research Council
  • Sandton Gallery (Millennium exhibition)
  • Gallery on the Square
  • The Little Louvre Gallery
  • The Stewart Gallery
  • Davide Brown Fine Art
  • Cool Art Gallery
  • Market Theatre Gallery
  • Carol Lee Gallery (Bamboo)
  • University of the North West, Solomon T Plaatje Memorial exhibition (Twelve exhibitions)
  • Mmabane Cultural Centre exhibition
  • SA Arts Association, Lichtenburg
  • Gallery Lichtenburg
  • The South African International School, Mmabatho
  • Mafikeng Museum (Anglo Boer / South African War Centenary exhibition)
  • Rhodes University
  • The Albany Museum SA Printmakers exhibition, Grahamstown
  • The Gap exhibition, Port Elizabeth (Four exhibitions)
  • The University of Fort Hare
  • Rhodes University (Masters of Fine Art solo exhibition)
  • King George Gallery (Port Elizabeth)
  • The National Arts Festival Grahamstown

    INTERNATIONAL:

  • Ghana (West Africa):

    One of two artists selected to represent South Africa at the PAN African Fetsival of the Arts (PENAFEST 97), 1 – 10 September 1997.

  • Kahn Gallery, South Naples, Florida, USA

  • Millennium Africa

    Arts and Craft exhibition, The Design Gallery of the Americas Inc, Miami, Florida, USA

    COMPETITIONS:

  • 1989 Volkas Atelier Competition
  • 1990 Cape Town Trienniale
  • 1994 Sol Plaatje Art exhibition
  • 1999 The Windsor and Newton Millennium Competition
  • 2002 Sasol New Signatures
  • 2003 Sasol New Signatures
  • 2004 Sasol New Signatures

    PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:

  • University of Silesia, Poland
  • Rhodes University, Grahamstown
  • University of the North West
  • Durban Mayors Office
  • Department of Culture, Science, Arts and Technologies, Pretoria
  • Mmabatho City Council
  • Johannesburg Art Bank

    PROJECTS:

    Three Hundred and Forty Six Works(Nationally and Internationally)

  • 2009 – TEMPLE OF THE ANCIENTS, JOHANNESBURG ZOO PROJECT

    In conjunction with Paga Designs as well as an Australian Zoo Exhibit Curator. I have designed and conceptualized 46 animal and insect enclosures using sculptural natural objects from desert environments to South American Amazonian Jungle as well as 6 large South American Aquarium fresh water habitats. Competition Date: December 2009.

  • 2009 – OFFICIAL LAUNCHING EXHIBITION OF THE BLUE DOOR PRINT STUDIO.

    I curated an exhibition of 22 members of the Blue Door Print Studio. 220 works from the Studio were exhibited at the David Brown Fine Art Gallery on the 21st May 2009. www.davidbrownfineart.co.za

  • 2007 – NATIONAL HEALTH LABORATORY SERVICES, JOHANNESBURG

    Benno of 2B Design and Collin Cole designed, conceptualized and project managed the construction and installation of the buildings main entrance.

  • 2006 – AMAZONIAN PRECINCT – JOHANNESBURG ZOO PROJECT

    I was invited by an architectural firm who after viewing my solo exhibition to be part of the concept and design team on the new Amazonian Precinct Project. I was awarded the project and was responsible for the design, conceptualization, project management and installation of all artworks, artifacts, sculptures and ceramic murals for the Amazonian precinct habitat.

  • 2004 – BIDVEST ART-JAM

    I partnered with Kate Sunley from By Invitation Only, an events management company to work together to facilitate individual and Group Art- Jams for several companies including Rentworks and Simply the Best. In 2004, they once again worked together to conceptualize, design and execute a linear artwork that was 16.5 m long by 3 m height for BIDVEST.

    The artwork was broken up into 88 canvas panels for the 300 senior managers of Bidvest to paint. Participants were split into teams of three to four people, based on their date of birth. They were allowed to use primary colours and had to use a point brush no bigger than 1cm wide. The painting took an hour and 17 minutes to complete.

    Brian Joffe, CEO of Bidvest, commented, “We didn’t have any idea the painting would turn out so well. The response was “Wow”. Bidvest has since used this artwork in their TV ads and for branding of their company.

  • 2003 – BLUE DOOR PRINT STUDIO

    I established a private teaching facility, the BLUE DOOR PRINT STUDIO, to teach artists and anyone with a serious desire, but outside of the often restricted formal educational institutions, the opportunity to learn professional printmaking.

  • 1986 – 1994 – SOLOMON T PLAATJE MEMORIAL EXHIBITIONS

    I curated 7 annual Solomon Plaatje Memorial Exhibitions as well as the University of the North West Art Collection.


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