Dee During
SOTA Selective
“No man has the right to dictate what other men should perceive, create or produce, but all should be encouraged to reveal themselves, their perceptions and emotions, and to build confidence in the creative spirit.”
One of my favourite quotes by the great Ansel Adams: it gives a fairly accurate summation of where my head is at. I have been searching for my reality for a long time. Half a lifetime it seems. With my photography, I feel like another piece has fallen into the puzzle. Aside from total curiosity and fascination with my surroundings and the vastly different ways people have of portraying them – I am totally in awe of how satisfying and inspiring it is to capture and present a beautiful image. If another person can see the beauty in, or appreciate my work, even better!
What is your favourite film of all time?
The Girl with the Pearl Earring and strangely enough, Avatar.
What music are you currently listening to and why?
Hablo con Ella by Alberto Iglesios – gives me goosebumps.
Which living artists do you most admire and why?
So many – but to name a few: William Kentridge for his unfailing South African-ness and ability to excel in a variety of mediums including film and theater. Andrew Cooper, also local artist for rich depiction of mountains. Ansel Adams as one of the finest photographers of all time and collectively because all these artists have such a distinctive style and strength in their interpretation of the world around them.
Which deceased artist do you most admire and why?
Particularly love the Impressionists like Renoir, Monet, Sisley and Pissaro for their beautiful landscapes and depiction of people in those times as well as for the time and dedication it took to create their masterpieces. The cubists, Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque for the radical style and challenging interpretations of the world around them.
Which exhibition that you have visited made the greatest impact on you and why?
TATE modern – the diversity of artistic styles
What is the question you get asked most frequently about your work and how do you answer it?
Too fresh, too new. Most people don’t even know that I’m out there yet
What/ who inspired you to be an artist?
Is it wrong to say – myself – mostly! Always wanted to be one but never had the opportunity at school to study art as it wasn’t offered as a subject. I have people around me that inspire me every single day. The incredible beauty of the Cape is massively inspirational and most of all, the desire to travel and record the incredibly diverse world around us, fuels my need to try to portray some of this on canvas.
Can you tell us about where you make your art and what if any, the significance of this location is
Anywhere and everywhere I possibly can. It’s hard to focus on reality sometimes, when all I can see are images waiting to be captured.
What do you like most about being an artist?
The opportunity to express myself creatively and to explore what it really is that moves my soul.
What is your greatest achievement as an artist to date? Accepting that that it is what I am
What are your plans for the coming year?
To keep learning, keep photographing, keep exploring and to keep on challenging myself