‘Meet me at the Harbour’, a solo exhibition by Tyrone Appollis will be opened by Prof. Linda de Vries on first Thursday 2nd November at The Cape Gallery.
Tyrone’s identity is vested in the culture of his society. He speaks ‘of the people for the people’.
In mood and aspect his vibrant works reflect a positive outcome, a wish fulfilled
and a dream come true. In the very expression of that wish however, lie tensions that that suggest the reality might be otherwise. An active harbour is a rich source of incident and drama
a location perfectly suited to his role of visual narrator.
‘Catch me at Hout Bay’ embodies the aspirations of the Hangberg community. The scene is touristic idyll, playful.
With a light, humorous touch he portrays a young girl casting her line across the bay to catch
a fish – the smoke from the chimney of the fish factory signals it is busy. In reality this community finds itself on prime real estate, with no room for growth – the overfished waters
no longer a source of income. What lies in the future?
Tyrone trained as a sign writer. Mentored by Cecil Skotnes at the Community Arts Project
in the ‘70s he draws inspiration from many precedents; storytelling devices used by the Italian ‘Primitive’ Fra Angelico, the passion of post-impressionist artist Vincent van Van Gogh, the emotional line and strong rhythms of Sekoto and more. His intuitive use of radiant colour commands attention. Tyrone chooses to stay in South Africa. ‘I can go to Clifton Beach
and find Italy.. the south of France in Franschhoek. I have everything I need.
WHEN: Exhibition to be opened by Prof. Linda de Vries first Thursday at the Cape Gallery.
Duration of exhibition: 2nd Nov – 2nd Dec 2017
WHERE: The Cape Gallery, 60 Church St, Cape Town 8001
INFO: T +27 21 4235309, visit, E web@capegallery.co.za
Have you picked up a copy of the 2018 Arts + Crafts Map?
Tyrone Appollis – Brief history, CV
Born 1957 in Cape Town Tyrone trained as a sign writer and later as a carpenter.
He held his first solo exhibition at 14 under the auspices of Students’ Health and Welfare Centre Organisation Shawco and the Cape Flats Development Association.It was only in 1982 that he studied part time for five years at the Community Arts Project under the artist Cecil Skotnes, culminating in a year of full time study at the Foundation School of Art in 1988.
Exhibitions
1982 Rocklands Library, Mitchells Plain
1988 South African Association of Arts
1989 British Council Johannesburg
1990 South African Association of Arts Worcester
1992 Chelsea Gallery, Wynberg, Cape Town
1993 Karren McKerron Gallery, Johannesburg
1997 Association for Visual Arts, Cape Town; Sheraton Atlantis Hotel, Zurich
2006 Sanlam Art Gallery, Bellville, Cape Town
2007 UCT, Irma Stern Museum
2017 Sanlam Gallery
1997 Sanlam Gallery, The Cape Gallery
Appollis has participated in numerous group exhibitions in South Africa and abroad.
Selected Public and Corporate Collections include: Constitutional Court of South Africa Collection, Johannesburg; Durban Art Gallery; Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town;
Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Mayibuye Centre, University of the Western Cape; Metropolitan Life Insurance Ltd; National Department of Education, Pretoria; National Gallery of Namibia, Windhoek; Norton Museum, Florida; Pretoria Art Museum; Sasol Art Collection; Sanlam Art Collection; University of Cape Town; University of Kansas
