Roelof Rossouw will exhibit a series of oil paintings inspired by Cape Town - the City Centre, Woodstock, Bokaap and the surrounding areas.

Roelof has an eye for the complexities of the urban landscape and is well able to capture the essential character of a locality. Cities, ports and the suburban sprawl are dynamic reflections of the populations and cultures of the people who inhabit them, in a constant flux as the old gives way to the new. Colour and light are synonymous in Roelof’s paintings; colour being the subtle indicator of the season and hour of day.  

Roelof studied at the Johannesburg School of Art, gaining a national diploma in art and design. He started painting seriously in 1992 and has since exhibited in South Africa, London, Glasgow, Cheltenham, Glasgow, Galway, Armagh, San Francisco and Miami.

In ‘Sights of Cape Town’ we see Roelof, who at the peak of his painting career can freely explore the city of Cape Town in transition; the historic central business districts at the heart of the Old City; Woodstock, the oldest suburb of Cape Town and the sprawling towns, ports and harbours that surround it.

Artist's statement:

“Lying on the slopes of Devil's Peak, Woodstock was first known as Papendorp. Later, in the 19th century, the then fashionable seaside area was briefly known as New Brighton. In 1867 residents voted to change the name to Woodstock.

The lower parts of Woodstock still have attractive run-down buildings, which as an artist I love to paint. The face of Woodstock has changed over the last decade with urban renewal. Very soon it will become too neat and modern to want to paint. Already young professionals have renovated and restored some Victorian semi-detached homes. Trendy restaurants, offices and shops have sprung up in cleverly converted warehouses and abandoned buildings.

I am excited about the colourful buildings that are offset by the warm and cool greys of pavements and tar roads. I have mainly used broad brush work, trying to capture the essence of the scene rather than the use of unnecessary detail. Figures add life and movement and every scene tells a story of a day in the life of Woodstock."