An exhibition of photographic work by Grada Djeri, curated in association with Jovana Djeri, and all works are drawn from her personal collection, opens at Erdman Contemporary on 14 April 2015.
Grada Djeri (1956 – 2014) studied painting at the Academy of Fine Art in Belgrade, but it would be in photography and music that he would ultimately leave his mark.
In 1992 Djeri moved from Yugoslavia to South Africa and settled in Cape Town. In his Bohemian Venken Lane studio, just off Long Street, Djeri refined his technique to close the gap between his love for both painting and photography. He transformed the traditional photographic printing process into an opportunity to paint, and by doing so, brought his black and white portraits to the surface in unusual, painterly and unique ways.
Djeri was the musical director of the Cape Town-based Kolo Novo Movie Band. Their eclectic sounds may have had deep Eastern European roots; but also reflected Djeri’s great ambition to create that fusion between different cultures and musical styles. As with his art Djeri found the same unique way to merge his love for Balkan music with the sounds of southern Africa.
Jorge Sierra Rubia, who photographed Djeri since their meeting in 2007 till Djeri’s death in 2014 will also participate in the exhibition. (See photo above).
WHERE: Erdmann Contemporary 84 Kloof Street, Gardens,Cape Town 8001
WHEN: Opening reception Tuesday 14 April 2015 at 6 pm
