Andries Fourie: June 2011

The Sleep of My Lions, COTA Gallery, Katutura Art Center, Windhoek, Namibia
July-August, 2011

Artist Statement

My work concerns itself chiefly with the issues of memory, identity and hybridity in contemporary South African culture.

As an Afrikaner (a white South African of Dutch descent) I view the present through the lens of a complicated past. Even after three hundred years in Africa Afrikaners are still torn between seeing themselves as European colonists or indigenous Africans.

I am interested in the dynamic cultural amalgamation that results from the contact between traditional, predominantly rural, African culture and the westernized modernity of the city. The fluid cultural mix that results from such an encounter is far more interesting to me than any romanticized notion of cultural purity which wants to fix a culture in an unchanging state of suspended animation. Culture is a vibrant, shifting and changing force that defies our impulse to freeze it in time like an artifact in a museum. I am fascinated by the hybrid, the subaltern, the improvised. I see these reflected in South African taxi culture, West African Barbershop signs, Township music and Tsotsitaal, and the wire toy cars that black South African children make and play with. I suppose that I am partly drawn to these examples of cultural blending because they expressly contravene the rigid, patriarchal prohibition against “mixing” cultures that was so important to the apartheid-era society I was raised in.

I embody my understanding of this hybridity in objects that stand in for the values and attitudes that my colonist ancestors brought with them from Europe, but which are now impractical and counterproductive in a dry, terrestrial African setting. In a tribute to the African side of my heritage, and the organic ingenuity of the African people, I adapt the objects in an improvised way to make them serve their intended function: symbolic and narrative exposition. Thus the object becomes both a celebration and a critique.

Formally I am interested in the tension between flatness and dimensionality, found objects and fabricated objects, sculptural form and graphic images, and control and spontaneity. Conceptually the contrast between the specific and the metaphorical, the rational and the emotional, the personal and the universal and the past and the present are of great interest to me. I am constantly drawn to opposites like modernist form and post-modern content. I mix media (sculpture, painting, printmaking and digital media) because I enjoy contrasting materials and violating the viewer’s expectations of how various media and genres function. I also like to think of the variety of media and materials as a metaphor for the issues of cultural hybridity that my work addresses. I appropriate images because I wish to make use of the inherent meanings that they bring with them (nostalgia or a specific sense of time, place or context). At the same time I find that recontextualizing those images through juxtaposition becomes a successful vehicle for the meaning I wish them to embody. My use of graphic processes, (silkscreen printing in particular) calls to mind screened posters and pamphlets, and refers to art’s potential as a catalyst for social change.

ANDRIES P. FOURIE
Assistant Professor
Department of Art & Art History
Willamette University
900 State University
Salem, OR 97301
Tel: (503) 370-6258
afourie@willamette.edu

Born
1968 Tshwane, South Africa

Education
2002 MFA (Art Studio), University of California, Davis
1999-2000 Graduate study, Indiana University, Bloomington, Studio Art - Sculpture
1999 M.A. California State University, Sacramento, Art Studio
1997 B. A. California State University, Sacramento, Art Studio (Summa Cum Laude)
1995 A.A. Sacramento City College, Art

One Person Exhibitions
2008 (April-May) Andries Fourie: Recent Work, Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem OR
2006 Andries Fourie, Carnegie Center for Visual and Performing Arts, Covington, KY
2003 Andries Fourie, Project Space, Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito, CA
2001 Andries Fourie, Sculptures and Paintings, Gregory Kondos Gallery, Sacramento City College, Sacramento CA
2001 Andries Fourie, Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA
1999 Andries Fourie, Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA
1998 The Aesthetics of Order, Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA
1998 Andries Fourie: Recent Works, R.W. Witt Gallery, CSU Sacramento CA
1998 Structure: Sculpture by Andries Fourie, Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA
1998 The Aesthetics of Function, Clarksburg Pottery Gallery, Clarksburg CA

Selected Group Exhibitions
2008 (June) Off the Grid, Pamela Skinner and Gwenna Howard Fine Art, Sacramento CA
2008 (May) Different Spokes, Mary Lou Zeek Gallery, Salem OR
2007 (December) Diaspora, Pence Gallery, Davis, CA
2007 The Around Oregon Annual, ArtCentric, Corvallis OR
2007 Artists Who Teach, Bush Barn Art Center, Salem Art Association, Salem OR
2007 Negotiating Identities in Africa and in the African Diaspora, Schmucker Art Gallery.
Gettysburg College, Gettysburg PA
2007 Radius 25, Salem Art Association Gallery, Salem OR
2006 Faculty Exhibition, Coburn Gallery, Ashland University, Ashland OH
2005 Ohio Art League Fall Juried Exhibition, Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus OH
2005 Calendar Exhibition, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield OH
2005 Regional Printmaking Exhibition, Elaine L. Jacob Gallery, Wayne State U., Detroit MI
2005 On the Pedestal, The Sculpture Center, Cleveland OH
2005 Faculty Exhibition, Coburn Gallery, Ashland University, Ashland OH
2004 Fabrications, WomanMade Gallery, Chicago IL
2004 Ashland University Juried Art Exhibition, Coburn Gallery, Ashland OH
2004 Mansfield Art Center Annual Fall Show, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield OH
2004 Ohio Art League Spring Juried Exhibition, Springfield Museum of Art, Springfield OH
2004 Annual All-Ohio Juried Art Exhibition, Pearl Conrad Art Gallery, OSU, Mansfield OH
2004 Faculty Exhibition, Coburn Art Gallery, Ashland University, Ashland OH
2004 Artist’s Valentines, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2003 Juried Member’s Exhibition, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield OH
2003 Danger, L.H. Horton Jr. Gallery, Delta College, Stockton CA
2003 The Other Side, B. Sakata Garo, Sacramento CA
2003 Andries Fourie & Mike Sirl, Recent Work, B. Sakata Garo, Sacramento CA
2003 Artist’s Valentines, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2002 Master of Fine Arts Exhibition, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2002 Artist’s Valentines, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2001 Mine, Memorial Union Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2001 Sacramento City College Faculty Exhibition, Gregory Kondos Gallery, Sacramento City College, Sacramento CA
2001 Prepwork, Pence Gallery, Davis CA
2001 Artist’s Valentines, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2000 Mind’s Eye, Memorial Union Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
2000 6/6, SOFA Gallery, IUB, Bloomington IN
2000 Fortune Cookie, Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento CA
1999 Till Death Do Us Part, Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento CA
1999 Master of Arts Graduation Exhibition, Robert Else Gallery, CSU Sacramento CA
1999 Artist’s Valentines, The Richard L. Nelson Gallery, UC Davis, Davis CA
1998 Dog Eat Dog World, Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA
1998 Andries Fourie, Lane Elliot, Shawn Sullivan, Diane Williams, Excentrique Gallery,
Sacramento CA
1998 Graduate Award Exhibition, Robert Else Gallery, CSU, Sacramento CA
1997 Alice in Wonderland, Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA
1997 Transitions, R.W. Witt Gallery, CSU Sacramento CA
1996 Kendall Le Compte, Michaele Le Compte, Amy Graham, Andries Fourie, Jeffrey Ferrando,
Pamela Skinner Gallery, Sacramento CA

Public Art and Installation Commissions
1997 The Music Building, California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento CA
2000 Trinity Episcopal Church, Bloomington IN

Selected Collections
Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Salem OR
California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento CA
Sacramento City College, Sacramento CA

Publications
2008 Evans, Sarah, The Scene, “Reconciling Self”, Spring 2008
2008 Cowan, Ron, Statesman Journal, “Seeking Answers”, Saturday April 19
2007 Munich, Suzanne, The Davis Enterprise, “Far from home: richly varied show celebrates international origins”, Friday December 21
2007 Cowan, Ron, Statesman Journal, “Radius 25 showcases strength of areas art scene” March 11
2004 Rall, Renee, The Collegian, “Annual Faculty Art Show Opens to the Public”, January 22
2003 Lachtman, Howard The Stockton Record (The Record Today), “Dangerous Concepts”, September 6
2003 Cebulski, Frank, Artweek, “ Danger at San Joaquin Delta College”, October
2003 Rall, Renee, The Collegian, “AU Sculptor Wins Art Show”, October 16
2003 Kowalewski, Jennifer, Mansfield News Journal, October 2
2003 White, Tim, Sacramento News & Review, February 20
2003 Dalkey, Victoria, The Sacramento Bee, February 16
2003 Dalkey, Victoria, The Sacramento Bee, January 5
2002 Moyle, Marilyn, The Davis Enterprise, June
2002 Dixon, Katey, The California Aggie, March
2002 Moyle, Marilyn, The Davis Enterprise, March
2001 Warren, Spring, The Davis Enterprise, January
2000 Warren, Spring, The Davis Enterprise, November
1999 Rose, Mckenna, The Davis Enterprise, January
1998 Blunk, Dawn, Sacramento Magazine, December
1998 Shear, Irving, River News Herald, February

Residencies
2002-2003 MFA Studio Award, Headlands Center for the Arts, Sausalito CA

Awards, Grants and Scholarships
2007 Atkinson Summer Research Grant, Willamette University
2004 Jury Award, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield OH
2003 Edward Frey Award, Mansfield Art Center, Mansfield OH
2001 Summer Research Fellowship, University of California, Davis.
2001 Block Grant, University of California, Davis
2001 University Grant, University of California, Davis
2000 Nelson Artreach Grant, Nelson Artfriends, University of California, Davis
2000 Artsbridge Scholarship, University of California, Davis
2000 Block Grant, University of California, Davis
2000 University Grant, University of California, Davis
1999 Fee Scholarship, Indiana University, Bloomington
1999 Chancellor’s Fellowship, Indiana University, Bloomington
1998 Increase Robinson Memorial Fellowship, California State University, Sacramento
1997 R.W. Witt Scholarship Award, California State University, Sacramento
1997 Golden Key National Honor Society Scholarship
1996 Womens’ Overseas Service League Memorial Scholarship
1996 Dan McAulife Memorial Scholarship, Sacramento City College
1993 Gregory Kondos Award, Sacramento City College

Employment
2006-present Assistant Professor of Art (Sculpture), Willamette University, Salem OR
2003-2006 Assistant Professor of Art (Sculpture), Ashland University, Ashland OH

Andries Fourie

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Upcoming Exhibition:

Blog Archive

About Me

Petroglyph 4

Petroglyph 3

Petroglyph 2

Petroglyph 1

Pondokke

Groot Spitzkoppe

Land/legacy

Untitled

Zena Web

Amiskloof

Windhoek II

Uis

Eva's Land( near Gobabis)

Oshakati

Okahandja

Otjiwarongo

Windhoek

Cradock Seties

Petronella Vastrap

Seekoeihoek Wals

warmpatat polka

warmpatat polka (detail)

Steynsburg

Cookhouse

Graaff Reinet

Ghaap se berg

De Aar

Kareedouw

Cradock

Zuurberg II

Zuurberg

Bruintjieshoogte

Two very different ways

Memory Map (Waterberg/Okakarara)

Kaondeka

Katatura/Eros Mountains

waterberg

Jakkals & Hoephoep

A brotherhood of meat-eaters

The Hero

Okakarara 2

Okakarara

Namibia/Magalies

oom ras speel accordion

requiem for gert de lange

Koeksisters in Patagonia

kleiosse

dolosse

we still fear africa

in the footsteps of mr kurz

old master's gone away

impediment

Recent Work

Memento

the birds of south africa

eGoli (the migrant dreams)

for the pleasure of the queen

keeping madam satisfied

the immigrant's cage

nostalgia II

Shongololo (wildealslaagte to reivilo)

The first true love of Thomas Greyling

Talking to Mr. Bhengu about cattle

Jozi Taxi

Mbaqanga Special

The Colonist Adapts (or Doesn't)

Making sense of what my grandparents taught me

Nostalgia

Ex Africa Semper Aliquid Novem

Cultural Memory

Denial's Antidote

Comparative Mythology

Asking the Ancestors for Answers

Links

Township Art Workshops, Summer 2007