Gerard Sekoto From Teaching To Painting - Arts and Entertainment ...

Gerard Sekoto is known as the father of South African art. A musician and an artist, he is recognised as the pioneer of urban black art.

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Gerard Sekoto was born in 1913 at the Lutheran Mission Station in Botshabelo near Middelburg. Sekoto loved to make music since childhood and learned to play the harmonica which was given to him by his father. ?Subsequently he began to compose his own music. ?A while later, he took interest in drawing and would draw pictures on his brother?s slate. ?After completing schooling, Sekoto went to Diocesan College in 1930 in order to become a teacher. After finishing his training in 1934 he taught at Khaiso Secondary School in Pietersburg. As Sekoto continued to draw, he soon developed an interest in water colour. He would work as a teacher during the day and would paint late into the night. Sekoto realised the possibility of pursuing art as a career following his participation in the national art competition where he won second prize.

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In 1939 Sekoto moved to Johannesburg. He met Judith Gluckman there, who introduced him to oil paint. His paintings spoke mainly of the cityscapes and social conditions prevalent at that time. His first individual exhibition was held in 1947. His paintings were received with enthusiasm and nearly all of his paintings were sold off.

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After the exhibition, he used the money from the sales of his paintings to travel to Europe. The Tate Gallery in London displayed his painting called ?Six pence on a door? during his journey. In a rare and honouring moment his painting was appreciated by the queen mother herself who visited the exhibition. In Paris, Soketo found a job as a pianist. He continued to paint and took classes at the ?Academie de la Grande Chaumi?re.

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Soketo?s first exhibition in Paris in 1949 was not a success. Sekoto was admitted to a Mental Institution following an argument with the show?s sponsor, Raymond. An article in Time Magazine had people talking about Sekolo, all thanks to an American woman who bought his paintings. After the article, sales picked up significantly and Sekoto?s life took a turn for the better.

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After his release from the hospital, Raymond arranged Sekoto to stay with one of his friends, Marthe. Fortunately Sekoto was able to continue painting as Marthe had an enormous studio at her home. In order to maintain his identity, Sekolo?s paintings consisted of life in South Africa. Sekoto exhibited his work across Europe in 1950. In 1966, Sekoto traveled to Senegal as part of an organisation of African artists known as the Presence Africaine. He stayed in Senegal and painted the Senegalese people for a while. He returned to Paris in 1967 to take care of his friend Marthe. Again he held many exhibitions in Europe. He moved out of her apartment after Marthe passed away in 1982. Two years later he met with a car accident and stayed at the hospital for three years. After his treatment, he moved to a commune of artists near Paris. Sekoto was once again in the lime light thanks to Barbara Lindop who wrote a book about him. The Johannesburg art gallery held an hohorary exhibition in 1989 called ?Gerard Sekoto: Unsevered Ties.

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Since he was away in Europe for most of his life, it was only later in his career that Sekoto received proper recognition in his country. Gerard Sekoto died in 1993.

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For more info, visit www.absolutart.co.za

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