SA artists’ unusual materials

South African artists are creating fascinating art out of the most unlikely objects

IT’S the first thing you reach for when you have something stuck between your teeth – but for one artist, the humble toothpick is a miniature marvel, a material that allows his creativity to run free. Chris Soal of Johannesburg uses vast quantities of this simple little stick to sculpt magnificent, otherworldly artworks. And he’s not the only one to see potential in the mundane.

Modern artists are increasingly using everyday objects to create thought-provoking and unusual art. Instead of these objects ending up in a landfill, they become something to treasure – and a reminder to us not to toss used items in the bin but rather to recycle and reuse them.

Many of these artworks were on display at the Investec Art Fair in Cape Town and some can be seen at the first Stellenbosch Triennale, which will run in various venues in the Boland town until 30 April. Here are some of the works that will have your draw dropping in wonder.

TOOTHPICKS

At first glance, the backdrop to these artworks looks like the pelt of an indeterminate furry animal – or perhaps a swirling coral reef. But up close, you discover the sculptures are in fact made of thousands, possibly millions, of sharp-pointed toothpicks. Chris Soal (25) started working with toothpicks in 2018 after finding an old photo of them on his cellphone. “I came across the pic and decided to make two works out of toothpicks in very small frames.” He imports the toothpicks for his artworks and recently replaced birch wood versions with bamboo ones as they’re more environmentally sustainable. “Bamboo doesn’t contribute to deforestation and there’s also less wastage in the production process,” he explains. It’s a challenging medium as toothpicks aren’t easily manipulated into the position he wants them in when he sticks them down with glue. “It also takes a long time to mount and hang the work to create the desired effect.” But the finished product is worth it.