Couple Dancing by Selwin Pekeur

Contemporary South African artist Selwin Pekeur began his career as an art teacher in 1980. His first position as a primary school teacher opened his eyes to the use of colour, form and humour. He coordinated workshops and exhibitions for children’s art and young artists. As a result of this, he found himself influenced by their portrayal of life in a primitive and naive genre.

Pekeur took up painting on a full time basis as of 1998. Selwin explores humour in his work as an effort to bridge the cultural divides in South Africa, emphasizing the saying, ‘Laughter heals’. Figures are his preferred subject, executed with bold colours, simple shapes, movement and often in humorous predicaments. Selwyn experiments with various materials and techniques, including sculpture, printmaking, as well as oil and acrylic painting.