Mermaids and Mountains by Nicolaas Maritz

At The Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town

Until 25 July 2010.

Mermaids and Mountains by Nicolaas Maritz

At The Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town Until 25 July 2010.

Mermaids and Mountains, an exhibition of paintings by Darling-based artist

Nicolaas Maritz, will be opening this Wednesday June at the Kalk Bay Modern.

Maritz is a recognised South African artist whose work features in every major

public and private collection in South Africa. His work is bold, brightly coloured

and most often tongue-in-cheek – he finds humour to be a vital tool as an

artist or ‘visual synthesizer’ and his 30 year career has allowed him to

accumulate the rich and somewhat esoteric artistic code or language. Over the

years these visual narratives have grown and multiplied in an organic manner

enhancing the depth and complexity of his work.

He has worked with a variety of media but has a longstanding passion for

enamel on board, often using simple house-paints as he did when

experimenting in his parent’s garage when he was young. He has a particular

fondness for certain traditional colours and has a deep interest and rich

knowledge of their origins.

Maritz has been having annual studio exhibitions at the MSG, (MARITZ STUDIO

GALLERY) in Darling since 1992. He won the NCSS CBC Notable Children's Trade

Book Award (USA) in 1992 and the Parents' Choice Illustration Honor (USA) in

1994. He has exhibited widely, including the Valparaiso Biennale and the Cape

Town Triennials.

Go to www.kalkbaymodern.blogspot.com to read more

Nicolaas Maritz

Yvette Allen giving the opening speech