Frikkie Cool Creative: Zander Blom

Our chosen creative of the week is the Snor City born and bred ZANDER BLOM. Zander is probably one of the Capitals finest exports. To define Zander is impossible. FULL STOP! This is due to the fact that he is not just a painter or an artist, but rather a multi-talented individual always testing the boundaries of creativity.

Zander is most noted for his paintings, drawings, installations and photography and together with this his talent for writing. Zander’s work has been exhibited in London, Berlin, Sao Paulo, Sienna, New York and many more.  His first major exhibition was ‘The Drain of Progress’ showed in 5 different exhibition spaces from 2007 – 2009. His next exhibition was ‘The Travels of Bad’ in 2009. In 2010 Zander presented his first set of oil paintings at the Stevenson gallery in Cape Town. 'Paintings. Drawings. Photos'

In the words of the creative:

There are few things as gratifying as waking up to the smell of linseed oil and paint, and stumbling through the chaos of torn-up books and empty tubes with a freshly squeezed palette of colour in hand. Figuring out your next move, brushstrokes staring back at you from the tussle of the night before. At home in Johannesburg my focus has shifted from making photographic works to working on oil paintings, having naturally gravitated towards a medium that I've loved from afar but previously only skirted around, flirted with and examined endlessly. Oil painting, which is not without its fair share of historical baggage, has finally ended up right in the centre of my life. In turn my house has evolved into a ramshackle painter's studio. Now I find myself in my ever-changing swamp, knee-deep in references, smeared with paint, avoiding email, watching the paintings paint themselves, and seeing all the little degenerates pile up in the garage.

Within the chaos of the painting mire, which sees that nothing in my house retains its original colour, or value, drawings are creeping around in every corner as they usually tend to do. Undisturbed, they collect and pile up under the bed.
Every now and then I tear myself away from the house to visit different cities abroad, where I produce the different chapters of a new long-term photographic project: the first chapter done in São Paulo, the second in Berlin, with Antwerp, Miami and Istanbul on the way.
PAINTINGS. DRAWINGS. PHOTOS. introduces these three new bodies of work in progress.

Other than his individual projects he also collaborates with other creatives and is a part of the two-piece band Jaco + Z-dog with Jaco van Schalkwyk. Their debut album Emansipasie can be downloaded for free (complete with album art) at jacozdog.com.Read more about these two here.

Zander’s latest series of work is titled ‘NEW PAINTINGS’. The exhibition opens tonight, Thursday 27 October at 6 pm at the Stevenson Johannesburg Gallery, 62 Juta Street, Braamfontein.

The exhibition runs until 9 Desember, so if you cant make the opening tonight be sure to check it out when you have a chance.

Zander writes:

The term 'easel painting' is one I'm very fond of. It suggests many things, but above all the possibility of a life that is uncomplicated, unaffected, even peaceful.

It is a place where you do not need to rely on the efforts of a whole team of assistants or a massive production budget for a successful outcome. A place where an individual can work at their own pace on their own terms, relying almost solely on their wit, intellect, ability, instinct and critical sense. Where each work, no matter what shape or size, can be equally important or effective. A place where you can sit down, have a cup of coffee and read a book while trying to figure out how to solve a new problem.

Frikkie Awesome Tip of The Week: Keep a eye on Zander Blom cause this guy is going places and when you have the opportunity, buy yourself a Zander Blom original.   POW!!