Artworks of a 26-year-old artist from Roodepan, Kimberley, were selected to be exhibited in London in a mere two months.
Two artworks of Eugene Oliphant, better known as Junior Oliphant, will be on exhibition from 19 May to 2 June.
These pieces were chosen by ItsLiquid Group for its eighth edition of the London Contemporary Art Fair. This art fair provides leading and emerging artists and exhibitors the opportunity to present their work to an international audience of professionals as curators, gallerists, collectors, editors and publishers seek to acquire, publish and encourage the best contemporary art talents.
It also presents a forum for the direct exchange of ideas and contacts between collectors, artists, photographers, designers, and art professionals, and features paintings, sculptures, photography art, installations, video art, and live performances.
Artists from all over the world can apply.
Oliphant, who was also a finalist in the 2018 and 2022 annual New Breed Art Competition in Bloemfontein, says this international exposure is of utmost importance to him as it could elevate his artistic career.
He lost both his parents before the age of four years.
“I have used the little memories I had of them to motivate me in my art career because I want to show them in my art the man I have become.”
Oliphant was born in Kimberley, raised in Kempton Park, and relocated to the Northern Cape when he was in Gr. 9. He matriculated at the Pescodia High School in 2015.
He studied towards his diploma in Design and Studio Art at the Central University of Technology Free State, in Bloemfontein, which he is taking a break from and is planning to continue with next year. As part of these studies, he took Communication Design as his major.
“This has helped me through my art mediums as a photographer, tattooist, visual artist and graphic designer, and I implement it in my work daily.”
At the moment, he is a Graphic Design student at ATTI Kimberley, with the aim to get a job in this field in the near future for an extra income. He is also a tattoo artist and photographer and has skills in several software applications, such as Photoshop, Corel Draw, Rhino Autocad and more. He also has experience as a security officer, waiter, barman, sales consultant, stock controller, and control room operator.
He is seeking sponsors to assist with the cost of amongst other air-tickets, accommodation, daily allowance, visa application fee, and passport renewal.
“The budget is R100 000, but any amount would be welcome.”
Oliphant is planning to present a fundraising art exhibition in April where some of his other artwork will be on sale. More detail on this event will follow.
- Anyone who can assist, can call Oliphant on 065-652-2716.