Newsletter | Summer 2012
For this weekend only, the best of my spring and summer landscape paintings are on show at my home in Baardskeerdersbos along with half a dozen bronze sculptures. read more
Newsletter | September 2011
It´s been a very fertile, almost feminine, winter with rain and sun alternating unpredictably to render the landscape vibrant and pulsating with life. Here in Baardskeerdersbos we built a voluptuous clay oven, while I completed a standing nude in bronze, and painted lots. read more
Exhibition | Hugo Naude Art Gallery
An exhibition of contemporary impressionist paintings by Niël Jonker will be on show at the Hugo Naude Art Gallery in Worcester from May 12 to June 8. According to artist and gallerist Sandra Hanekom, "Jonker has redefined SA landscape painting" through his approach that includes working in situ, and reflecting the landscape emotively. read more
Newsletter | Autumn 2011
As the excitement of summer winds down along with the slowly descending poplar leaves here in the bos of Baardskeerdersbos, I reflect on the past season. The highlight must be meeting the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and giving him a bronze sculpture during this read more
Newsflash | New Sculpture
Niël Jonker is pleased to announce the unveiling of his new bronze sculpture, titled "Fighter on the roof" at his annual Klein Karoo Nasianale Kunstefees exhibition ... You are invited to share in this event ... on Sunday 3 April at 16h00. read more
Newsletter | Summer 2011
Baardskeerdersbos Art Route :: 8 & 9 January 2011
Enjoy Jonker's recent bronze sculpture and new oil paintings along with stoep activities such as musician Theo Dyson and visiting Overberg artists Andre Minnie (ceramics) and Nzuzu Ndabula (wood carvings). read more
Newsletter | Summer 2010
Small somethings
'Not again' It´s a sunny Sunday in the terraced garden of an upmarket B&B in a Western cape small town and I´ve just set up an exhibition of my paintings along with a random group of artists. read more
Newsletter | Spring 2010
Events that celebrate art have become a part of our landscape, and while taking a trip to some scenic location is a national ritual for many, sharing in art at these rural locations can be an invaluable experience. read more
Newsletter | Autumn 2010
Niël Jonker was commissioned to create the bronze trophy for the Absa Cape Epic, the definitive and toughest of international mountain bike races that finished on Sunday after eight grueling days. The (rather heavy) trophy was raised above the weary heads of winning German Bulls team after covering some of the Cape´s most magical … read more
Newsletter | Summer 2009
The beginning is in the manner of the ending …
A feature of each year-end is the annual Summer Salon.
One of the country´s oldest galleries, The Strydom Gallery stages a most impressive ensemble of art each year and this in the most unexpected small town of George. I always look forward to Leon Strydom´s annual visit to my studio as he crosses the country hand-picking work from his favourite artists … read more
Newsletter | Spring 2009
Curiously, the mind never ceases to amaze one, and the art practice provides generous opportunity to be amazed. Was it a press photograph or a news report? Is this a feeling or a thought, and are these separate? read more
Newsletter | Winter 2009
As a classic Cape storm rages outside, the sea weather sweeps across this southern extremity, marking Winter as the time of rest, reflection and rejuvination. Vineyards teach us about active rest as leaves colour and wither visibly, the sap dropping gradually but certainly. On a recent painting trip to the winelands, I was enthralled by the forms of gnarled vines strewn amongst the rows of an historic vineyard of bush vines. Like veritable bonsais, pruned twice annually and the roots ripped, these impassioned expressions of growth and the fight for life have taken unique form over almost a century since being established … read more
Silence and the art of wondering about the house
by Carin Goodwin
There is an old polemic around art and whether or not it has more value when it has relinquished the ivory tower. Niël Jonker´s work, both painting and sculpture, is positioned in a tradition which elegantly traverses, and offers some synthesis, to this polemic.
In many ways, it is argued, formalism in art alienates people from the art object. It is often said that working within a recognisable technical tradition the artist, instead of communicating with the viewer, stupefies and overpowers the very persons to whom the work is intended to make an appeal on some level. The suggestion then is that art should not be about overtly drawing attention to form itself but should be about conveying content, whether it is purely conceptual or obviously representational.
Jonker´s work sees an unapologetic appeal to some the most fundamental laws of painting and sculpture. It represents the work of an artist who cannot reject the importance of "doing it right". In looking at, for instance, some of his paintings it becomes significantly clear that these are born from a challenge to put, on canvas, something which has caught the eye of the artist. It is, therefore, evident that there was no respite until the light is captured, the colours are honest and the lines are true. And since this is not the easy flight into aesthetic nihilism, what emerges is art which convinces.
How then, is it being suggested, does Jonker´s work offer synthesis to the old polemic, when what seems to be advocated by this work is an adherence to tradition? The subject matter, and the particular choice of its portrayal, seems to be how this work ingratiates itself to the viewer. It rapidly becomes evident, while observing, for instance, a painted still life or portrait, that even the most likely subject matter simply cannot be romanticised when viewed by certain artists. And such romanticising is evaded when there is nearly an over-developed understanding of the subject, what it is, why it is like that and wherein exactly lies its beauty. If any romance is detected it is entirely free of sentiment and is firmly and solely rooted in the interaction which the viewer has with the piece. And in this sense Jonker´s work is undeniably conducive to human passion; not because it prescribes it, but evokes it.
Observing Niël Jonker´s work is engaging with art which is made by a person who can see, and a painter who can paint.
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Baardskeerdersbos Art Route 14 & 15 January, Baardskeerdersbos
Western Cape
Steenbokfontein Art Celebration, 3 to 18 September 2011,
Lamberts Bay
Stellenbosch Art Association, PJ Olivier Art Centre, 9 to 22 September 2011, Stellenbosch
12 May, Hugo Naude, Worcester
June 10, Sandra Hanekom's Fine Art Atelier, Piketberg (group show)
June 10, Prince Albert Gallery
Strydom Gallery, George
Missions House Gallery, Onrust
30 April, 2 May 2011
Autumn Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
2 to 9 April
KKNK, Oudtshoorn
8 & 9 January 2011
Baardskeerdersbos Art Route
29 Sept. - 3 Oct. 2010
Karoo Klassique, Oudtshoorn
4 - 20 September 2010
Steenbokslaagte,
Lamberts Bay
19 December 2010
Art in a Country Garden
16 June 2010
Group, Stanford Galleries, Stanford.
1- 8 April 2010
Solo, KKNK, Oudtshoorn
1- 7 March 2010
Group, Woordfees, Stellenbosch
December 2009
Gala Exhibition, Walker Bay Gallery, Hermanus
17 December 2009
Summer Exhibition, Stanford Galleries, Stanford
3 December 2009
Summer Salon, Hout Street Gallery, Paarl
21 November 2009
41st Summer Exhibition, The Strydom Gallery, George
30 Oct - 15 Nov 2009
Oudebrug Gallery, Grabouw, Western Cape
26 & 27 September 2009
"Baardskeerdersbos Art Route", Southern Overberg
23-27 September 2009
"Foundryman's Choice"
Cultivaria Festival, Paarl
28 August 2009
"Solitude & things collected"
Kraalstudio, Pretoria
by Carin Goodwin
On some mornings it seems there is an even greater urgency to look with exaggerated concentration at the scene in front of one. If, for instance, there is a thin layer of mist just above the hills, moving gently into nowhere, it is imperative that one notices this as every moment passes, so as not to miss the event … read more
It is drizzling as light emerges over the fynbos covered hills of the southwestern cape. A flick of the ignition and the scenery is brought back as the windscreen clears, just long enough for the artist to mix another colour, look, and mix again … read more
A well-researched, fascinating history of the people and places in this hitherto under-exposed part of the Western Cape, with magnificent photographs and reproductions of historical documentation … read more
 Niël Jonker on Facebook |
 Niël Jonker YouTube video |