‘AEON’ FETCHED HIGH MARKET VALUE ON AUCTION

Studio News

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July, 2020

De Jager’s work recently featured on ABSA’s first online auction ‘ABSA Art Hotspot’, hosted by Aspire Art Auctions. The auction was created to assist artists during the COVID-19 pandemic and funds raised are to be shared by the 25 artists taking part; a portion will also go toward supporting the broader arts industry.

De Jager’s work ‘Aeon’ from her award-winning solo exhibition ‘Broeigrond’ fetched a significantly higher price than the estimate. Four works from this series have previously been acquired by the ABSA Art Collection, and this latest auction result has pushed this series’ value up by 40%.

Image: Ronél de Jager. 'Aeon' VI (detail), 2017

UJ ARTS & CULTURE RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS

Press

Classic Feel

Online

June, 2020

In March 2020, COVID-19 forced galleries to close their doors and theatres to turn off the lights. Overnight events, performances and exhibitions were cancelled, planned work shelved and important revenue streams lost. But the arts are resilient, and projects were born that not only reflected the current situation but offered hope in a changing world.

On 11 May, the UJ Choir launched its ninth album, When the Earth Stands Still, and with it came an emotional interdisciplinary project, 'The Pandemic'. UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) at the University of Johannesburg, has invited over 25 visual artists, dancers and choreographers to each develop a new work inspired by music from the UJ Choir’s album 'When the Earth Stands Still'.

Image: UJ Pandemic. Courtesy UJ Arts & Culture

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LIMPOPO RESIDENCY

Studio News

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May, 2020

After the announcement of the national lockdown for South Africans in March 2020, De Jager’s production came to a stand-still. Many exhibition opportunities were cancelled and there was much uncertainty about the future of the art industry. De Jager’s husband, cinematographer and wildlife documentary camera-operator, Thomas Pretorius, took a job in Limpopo and the family had to temporarily relocate, resulting in de Jager’s four-month residency in Limpopo. “For once, I am in the opposing seat than everyone at home – being isolated is nothing novel to me and it has been a surreal opportunity to be able to experience nature while there is even less interaction with people. This time has allowed me complete absorption of this natural environment; interacting with wild life up-close and personal; learning about conservationist’s battle for the protection of threatened species and environmental issues affecting these species – it has truly been inspiring experience, and one I wish to incorporate into my work.”

Photo by Thomas Pretorius