Photo by Thomas Pretorius
PROFILE
RONÉL DE JAGER'S WORK DEALS WITH THE CONCEPTS OF TIME, ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS AND WITH PERSONAL NARRATIVES AS MICROCOSMS OF BROADER SOCIAL ISSUES.
A MULTI SENSORY APPROACH, INCORPORATING NUMEROUS DISCIPLINES ALONG WITH THE ALWAYS-PALPABLE SENSE OF TIME, IS THE HALLMARK OF DE JAGER'S WORK.
Ronél de Jager was born in Johannesburg, South Africa (1985) where she currently lives and works. An award-winning multidisciplinary artist, De Jager moves between painting, sculpture and installation. Her work shifts between concepts of time, environmental concerns and personal narratives as microcosms of broader social issues.
Through an abiding interest in translating photographic and video imagery into ambiguous, suggestive paint marks, De Jager explores liminal states. In her work, transience is the constant, change is the leitmotif, both conceptually and formally. Her works demonstrate the continuous transformation to which every form is subjected and reflect on the eternal process of becoming and of passing away. The through-line is that this change, this mutability renders moments, memories and sensations in a permanent state of flux, forever slipping away. The act of painting the ineffable is a process of trying to understand that which resists understanding. It is in this fertile ground that De Jager’s work exists.
De Jager presented her latest solo exhibition, Still Here at Kalashnikovv Gallery in Braamfontein Johannesburg in June 2022; the show delved deeper into ideas that the artist had been mulling over during Covid-19 and the lockdowns: gender roles, our position as subjects in the digital age, and limits of emotional range in the flattening reality of social media. The work on the show took as its central image the bouquet, enlarged and isolated on each canvas. However, the rendering of these floral arrangements is anything but traditional. As Ashraf Jamal wrote, “De Jager’s blurred, filigreed canvases evoke the ornamental, then erase it […]To my mind, it suggests an artwork that is more impressionistic than realistic, the art of someone drawn to miasmas – visualised worlds that quake and tremble in the face of certainty.”
Represented by Kalashnikovv Gallery since 2022; Art Fairs includes Cape Town Art Fair 2022, Turbine Art Fair (2021 and 2022) and more recently a special focus on her work at the FNB Art Joburg in 2022.
Selected group show participations includes: Reshape Future Art Histories (2022) presented by Latitudes Online; Thread(ed) Interlacing Womxn in the 21st Century (2021) curated by Adéle Adendorff and Georgia Glass; Winter Group Show presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery (2021); Verf/Paint curated by Johan Myburg (2021); In Conversation with Colour Symphony hosted by Rupert Museum (2021); The Pandemic Project, an interdisciplinary project hosted by the University of Johannesburg (2020); Lost and Found hosted by Bag factory Artist’s Studios (2019) and New Romantics curated by Mary Corrigall and hosted by Barnard Gallery in Cape Town (2018). In January 2020, De Jager concluded a four-month residency at Bag Factory Artist’s Studios in Newtown, Johannesburg.
Additionally, collaborative projects includes a glass beaded work All that Glitters...is Glass (2022) in collaboration with Cape Town based 'Qaqambile Bead Studio'. In 2019 she has collaborated with Eswatini based 'Ngwenya Glass' on her Citizen of Glass sculpture project. Collective project exhibitions include MYOPIA and Sacred & Profane, both in 2017. Prior to this she has been a regular finalist in National Art Competitions; ABSA L’Atelier (2008, 2013 and 2015), Sasol New Signatures (in 2008, 2010 and 2014) and the Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards (in 2011 to 2016). De Jager is also a recipient of the MTN Foundation Award (2003).
Her works are included in a significant number of public and private collections, locally and abroad, including ABSA, First Rand Limited, Hollard SA & Australia, Rand Merchant Rank, Sasol, Telkom, Spier Arts Trust, Nando’s International and the permanent collection of the South African National Library.
De Jager’s exhibition Broeigrond: Fertile Ground for Golden Regrets secured her the 2017 KKNK Kanna Award which saw her work foray into the 3-dimensional and have moved her practice into creating environments for her work. This installation was acquired by the Hollard Art Collection (2017) and permanently installed at The Pines in Parktown, Johannesburg. Further installations of her Citizen of Glass sculpture series have been commissioned by First Rand Limited, (housed at Merchant Place, Sandton). She has also completed commissions for Nando’s UK and Edgars & VMLYR in 2020.
CV
SOLO EXHIBITIONS //
PROJECTS
2022
STILL HERE, Solo Exhibition presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
2017
BROEIGROND: Fertile Ground for Golden Regrets, Solo Exhibition (KANNA Award) KKNK Main Visual Arts programme, Oudsthoorn
MYOPIA, Collaborative Exhibition with Mandy Coppes-Martin, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
SACRED & PROFANE, Collaborative Exhibition with Dirk Bahmann, Stephan Erasmus, Mandy Johnston, Wayne Mathews & Neil Nieuwoudt, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
2015
AM (AFTER MIDNIGHT), Multimedia Solo Exhibition (final in a three part series), Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
2014
AN INTERLUDE, Featured Multimedia Installation (second in a three part series), Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg
A PRELUDE, Multimedia Installation (first in a three part series), ROOM Gallery & Projects, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
A DISCORD, Interactive Performance in association with Site Specific, Johannesburg
2009
123 BLOKMYSELF!, Gordart Gallery Project Room, Johannesburg
ART FAIRS
FNB Art Joburg, Represented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Sandton Convention Center – 2022
Investec Cape Town Art Fair, Represented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Cape Town Convention Center – 2022
Turbine Art Fair, Represented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Johannesburg – 2021, 2022
AWARDS //
RESIDENCIES
Bag Factory Artists’ Studio Residency, Newtown, Johannesburg – 2019/2020
KANNA Award, Best Visual Art Presentation, KKNK National Arts Festival – 2017
ABSA L’Atelier, Top 100 Finalist – 2015, 2013, 2008
Thami Mnyele Fine Art Awards, Top 100 Finalist – 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011
Sasol New Signatures, Top 100 Finalist – 2013, 2010, 2008
MTN Art Foundation Award – 2003
COLLECTIONS
ABSA
South African National Library Public Art Collection
Hollard – Australia & South Africa
First Rand Limited
Rand Merchant Bank
Nando's – South Africa, Malaysia & UK
Spier Arts Trust & Wine Estate
Telkom SA
Sasol Limited
Various National and International Private Collections (Spain, Germany, Mauritius, Switzerland, UK, Australia, USA São Paulo amongst others)
COMMISSIONS //
PERMANENT INSTALLATIONS
First Rand Limited: Citizen of Glass installation, Commissioned for CEO Offices, Merchant Place, Sandton, Johannesburg – 2018
Hollard SA: Permanent installation of Citizen of Glass: Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn & Mercury, housed at The Pines, Parktown, Johannesburg – 2017
Nando’s UK: Veil II – 2020
Edgars & VMLYR: Commissioned Painting, Unravel – 2020
South African Government: Official Nelson Mandela Funeral Portrait, assisted commissioned artist Usha Seejarim – 2013
INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE
New Voices II, Curator, hosted by Lizamore & Associates, Johannesburg – 2013
The Art of Access Webinar Series, Project manager, hosted by Usha Seejarim – 2013
New Voices, Curatorial debut, hosted by Artspace Gallery, Johannesburg – 2012
Gallery Manager & Assistant Curator, Artspace Gallery (now Lizamore & Associates), Johannesburg, 2007 – 2013
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022
Reshape. Future Art Histories, Presented by Latitudes Online
100% Design Africa, presented by Kalashnikovv Gallery, Sandton Convention Center, Johannesburg
2021
Thread(ed) Interlacing Womxn in the 21st Century, Curated by Dr Adéle Adendorf & Georgina Glass, AOA, Pretoria
Winter Group Show, Kalashnikovv Gallery, Braamfontein, Johannesburg
Paint. Verf. Curated by Johan Myburg, KKNK National Arts Festival, Online
In Conversation with Colour Symphony, Hosted by Rupert Museum, Graaff-Reinet
2020
ABSA Artworks, Exhibition & Art Investment Webinar Series, ABSA Gallery, Online
ABSA Art Hot Spot, Auction hosted by ABSA & Aspire Art Auctions, Online
The Pandemic, Interdisciplinary Project curated by Annali Dempsey, Online & University of Johannesburg Gallery
Vanishing Act, Curated by Suen Muller, KKNK National Arts Festival, Online
Knowingly Waisting Time, Painting group exhibition, No End Contemporary, Johannesburg
She Impressions, All female group exhibition, The Project Space, Victoria Yards, Johannesburg
2019
Bag Factory Salon, Bag Factory Artist’s Studios, Johannesburg
Lost & Found, Curated by Candice Allison, Bag Factory Artist’s Studios, Johannesburg
ABSA Champaign Festival, Curated by Sarah Mcgee, Polo Room, Sandton, Johannesburg
Countershading, Art on Avenues Gallery, Somerset West
Murmurs of Earth, Art on Avenues Gallery, Somerset West
Collecting Contemporary, Curated by Teresa Lizamore, KKNK Festival, Oudtshoorn
Muurblom, US Woordfees, Stellenbosch
2018
New Romantics, Curated by Mary Corrigall, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
Nano 1.2, Curated by Alastair Whitton, Barnard Gallery, Cape Town
Paint it Forward, Curated by Lucia Boer, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg
Bag Factory Annual Salon, Bagfactory Artists Studios, Johannesburg
2017
MYOPIA, Collaborative exhibition with Mandy Coppes-Martin, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
Dead and Dreaming: Still Life, Painting exhibition curated by Wayne Matthews, Priest Gallery, Johannesburg
Lady Garden, Cavalli Gallery, Somerset West, Cape Town
Trailblazers, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
Material Consequences, Womxn exhibition presented by RMB, Merchant Place, Johannesburg
Sacred & Profane, Collaborative exhibition with Dirk Bahmann, Stephan Erasmus, Mandy Johnston, Wayne Mathews & Neil Nieuwoudt, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
See Art, Gallery 2, Johannesburg
2Y2K, Curated by Rebecca Haysom, Twilsharp Studios, Johannesburg
35 Years Lizamore, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
2016
For What It's Worth, No End Contemporary Art Space, Johannesburg
#Selfie, Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
Spaces Between Maps, Curated by Stephan Erasmus, KKNK Festival, ABSA Gallery, Oudtshoorn
Fifteen Hundred, No End Contemporary, Johannesburg
Stellar, Salon 91 Contemporary Gallery, Cape Town
Office Party, Curated by Rebecca Haysom, Twilsharp Studios, Johannesburg
2015
Last Night I Had The Strangest Dream, Curated by Layla Leiman, Twilsharp studios, Johannesburg
We're Not in Kansas Anymore, Presented by George Bizos fund, Sahethi School, Johannesburg
Joburg Fringe, Presented by Dead Bunny Society as part of Art Week Joburg, Arts on Main, Johannesburg
Cultivate, Curated by Kevin Handelsman & Kim Lieberman, King David's School, Johannesburg
Winter is Coming, Equus Gallery, Cavalli Estate, Somerset West
Macabre, Curated by Dead Bunny Society, Under Culture Contemporary, Port Elizabeth
2013
Interrupted, Curated by Annali Cabano-Dempsey, University of Johannesburg Art Gallery, Johannesburg
No Place Like Now, Curated by Emma Willemse & Tamzin Lovell, Lovell Gallery, Cape Town
PRESS
FNB ART JOBURG – ‘Artist of Interest'. Feature by Zaza Hlalethwa, 14th July 2022
Artthrob – ‘Elegant Inscrutability'. Review by Ashraf Jamal, 7th July 2022
Netwerk24 / Media 24 – ‘Resensie - 'Still here'. Review by Johan Myburg , June 2022
Habitat Magazine – ‘Melding the Mirror of Scientific Observation'. Interview by Emilie Froment, June 2022
Classic Feel – ‘UJ ARTS & CULTURE RESPONDS TO THE COVID-19 CRISIS'. Article, June 2020
Art Africa – ‘New Romantics’. Review by Ellen Agnew, February 2018
Business Day – ‘Artwork as a new romance rooted in nature’s magic’. Article by Mary Corrigall, January 2018
Cape Times – ‘Romantics Fixated on Capturing New World’. Article by Mary Corrigall, February 2018
Beeld – 'Betekenis lê tussen die heilige en onheilige'. Review by Johan Myburg, August 2017
The Star – 'Hopping Into the Great Unknown'. Review by Mary Corrigall, August 2017
Maroela Media – 'Broeigrond Wins Kanna Award', May 2017
RSG Kuns – 'Broeigrond Exhibition'. Radio Interview with Christelle Webb-Joubert, April 2017
Bravo! kyknet – 'Kanna Award Winners announced at Nasdak, CT', May 2017
Vrouekeur – 'Kuns Uit Eie Bodem'. Feature by Johan Myburg, June 2016
The Citizen – 'Escape The Noise'. Article by Adriaan Roets, May 2016
ELLE Décor – ‘Finding the Black hole’ artwork feature in Inspiration section, April 2016
Finweek – 'How to Pick a Winning Artist'. Article by Johan Myburg, January 2016
Visi.co.za – 'Broken Monsters Cape Town Exhibition', January 2016
Contemporary And – 'Last Night I had the Strangest Dream' artwork feature, July 2015
Barclays L'Atelier – 'Top 100 finalists', March 2015
Business Day – 'Insights via unconventional ways of perceiving the world'. Feature by Chris Thurman, February 2015
RSG Kuns – 'AM After Midnight Exhibition'. Radio Interview with Christelle Webb-Joubert, February 2015
Artslink – 'The Fleeting Nature of Light and Shadow', January 2015
DEKAT TV. Kyknet – Rolanda Marias interviews De Jager at her studio, October 2014
Grolsch Canvas – ‘Words Can’t Express What the Eye Sees’. July 2014
Saturday Citizen – ‘A Moment’s Silence’. Article by Genevieve Veira, June 2014
Business Day – ‘Tricks of Light and Shade are elegiac’ Article by Chris Thurman. June 2014
RSG Kuns – ‘A Prelude Exhibition'. Radio Interview with Christelle Webb-Joubert. February 2014
Joburg City Buzz – 'Pushing boundaries with featured multimedia elements'. Article by Khanyisile Ngcobo. June 2014
Artthrob – ‘A Prelude opens at Room Gallery & Projects’. March 2014