Passion for clay paves way to London
A PASSION for clay has landed a Port Elizabeth ceramicist on an international stage by exhibiting at the Tanya Baxter Contemporary Gallery in Chelsea, London, this week.
Bentley van Wyk, 25, of Sherwood, is showing more than 40 ceramic works at an exhibition titled Cohesive Clash as part of the South African Art and Wine Week at the gallery.
The show is sponsored by South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry and the African Arts Institute.
“I’ve always had a passion for drawing and thought that same passion would lead me doing graphic design instead of what I’m doing now,” Van Wyk said.
Cohesive Clash represents the diversity, creativity and eclectic lifestyle evident in the country today.
The mix of talent represented in the collection matches the diversity of the nation and suggests the cohesive clash of culture and colour can bring about peace and harmony anywhere through art.
“I initially studied economics and after my second year, I knew it wasn’t for me. Then, in my second year at varsity, I enrolled at the school of design with the hopes of doing graphic design,” he said.
The only one from Port Elizabeth to take part in the exhibition, Bentley said he mainly worked in earthenware and porcelain clay up to now.
“I used any sort of material I could get my hands on to make my pieces, whether it’s bought, commercial, hand-made stamps or found objects,” the young talent said.
Apart from the Cohesive Clash exhibition, Bentley showed his work at the 2015 Emerging Design Indaba in Cape Town last year, crediting it with opening doors for him in London.
Among other things, Bentley is passionate about helping children explore the creative arts and also to become positive role models in their communities.