The Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden is the flagship of the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI), which has eight botanical gardens throughout the country & two major research centres, one in Pretoria, the other in Cape Town, all of which focus on the indigenous biodiversity of Southern Africa.
In 2000, the Kirstenbosch Biennale an exhibition of fine botanical art - was inaugurated,with exhibitions held again in 2002, 2004 & 2006. In keeping with the vision of SANBI,both to celebrate and to honour southern Africa’s rich and varied floral heritage, the Kirstenbosch Biennale exhibits exclusively southern African flora.
From small beginnings, with 37 local artists’ works accepted for the 2000 show and 41 in 2002, the number rose to 51 in 2004 and 64 in 2006, with a growing number of prominent international artists participating. Scraperboard/Scratchboard Art is one of the oldest mediums of Art. A local artist, Solly Gutman has been selected to exhibit 4 pieces at the Biennale. Scraperboard art is an interesting art form. The image is scratched into the medium, rather than painted on in the traditional manner.
The medium itself consists of a sheet of board, which is coated with white chalk (clay). It is then sprayed (overlaid) with a matt black ink.
The artist commenced working in the Scraperboard medium in 1968, and this has remained his exclusive medium. Solly Gutman has a love of early Cape Town & the surrounding areas and he has previously done work for the Robben Island Group and held numerous exhibitions around Cape Town. You can find out more about this medium on the following website - www.scraperboardart.co.za
Contact Information:Herschel Gutman Marketing Director Scraperboard Art info@scraperboardart.co.za PO Box 3774, Cape Town, 8000, RSA Tel: 071 490 8833 Fax: 021 434 8355 Cell: 082 417 1887 www.scraperboardart.co.za