André Prinsloo
s c u l p t o r
my Sculptures
a.jpg)
AboutBorn 8 November 1956 in Port Elizabeth
EDUCATION
Matriculated in 1974 from Cillié High School – Port Elizabeth
During the period 1975 - 1979 I obtained the National Diploma in Sculpture - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) (then College for Advanced Technical Education or CATE) under Sculptor Phil Kolbe.
In 1978 I completed the Higher National Diploma in Sculpture (specialising in Terra Cotta) - Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) (then College for Advanced Technical Education) under sculptor Phil Kolbe and ceramicist Hylton Nel.
WORK EXPERIENCE
1979 – 1980 SANDF (National Service)
After completing my Basic orientation during this two-year period I worked or 18 months in the Sculpture Department of the military’s Shows & Exhibitions doing trophies and other relevant sculptures i.e. Busts & Relief Panels
1981 - Co-founderwith H.L.McDonald of MacAndré Foundry.
Extensive experience in downdraft kiln building, using anthracite as fuel, traditional lost wax investment casting, mould making & relevant disciplines
1982 – 1983 PACT (Provincial Arts Council of Transvaal)
I worked in the Props (Requisites) Fabrication Department where I did my first larger than Life carvings in polystyrene seven meters tall for the opera Nabuccu as well as a variety of props and other theatre skills.
1983 – 1985 SANDF (Permanent Force)
During this period I worked in the Sculpture Department of the South African National Defence Force’s Department Shows & Exhibitions. One of my main sculptures of this time was a life-size Figure of a soldier in bronze in front of The Military Academy in Saldanha Bay. Another was a Para-bat Memorial of three half life-size Para-troopers in Bronze at their Battalion in Bloemfontein. During this period we also developed a bronze foundry for the SANDF to do it’s own trophies, busts and other sculptures.
1986– 1987 (July ’86 – June ’87) University of Pretoria(Fine Art Department)
I was employed as a Technical Assistant in Sculpture Department and worked under Prof Mike Edwards & Prof Nico Roos. During this time I worked in the Sculpture Department’s foundry and did numerous bronze castings (including work for well known sculptors Eduardo Villa, Maureen Quin, Johan van Heerden, Dorta Berner & Caroline van der Merwe)
-
1988 – 1996 Sets Etcetera (Co-owner & partner)
I was a Partner in small business that specialized in building theatre & TV sets & requisites.
-
1990 - 1991 Worked as freelance sculptor under Kobus de Beer on The Lost City Project at Sun City (carved the Palm Fronds of the big arches at Krugersdorp studios)
-
1993 -Lectured Part time in the Sculpture Department at the University of Pretoria.
-
1996 - 1997 Tshwane University of Technology (Lecturer in the Props (Requisites) Department. Entertainment Technology
-
1997 – to June 2013 Creoterra Cc
I was a Partner in a small manufacturing business of Cement Fibre Pots and Garden Sculptures. It was my responsibility to design, sculpt and fabricate the complete range of pots, planters & garden sculptures. This included extensive research and production of rigid (fiberglass) mould making for the above products.
One of the highlights during this time was when our Pots & Planters was selected nationally by the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens (Designers David Davidson & Raymond Hudson) and used in the annual South African stall at the Chelsea Flower Show (Royal Horticultural Society – RHS) 2006 in the UK. South Africa won a gold medal.
During this time I also helped various sculptors (like Sculptors Suzanne du Toit & Marina Welsch) with mould making (Silicon, Polyurethane & fibre-glass) and Casting work in Cement, white cement, F/glass and various other materials. Also sculpted, moulded and made fibre-glass casts of three over life-size mythological figures (mermaid, Merman, sea turtle, Leopard, crocodile, etc.) for Fountains for Gallo Precast (Pretoria) to be exported and installed in Lumbumbashi, DRC.
Skills:
-
Carving big sculptures in polystyrene and polyurethane
-
Sculpting large sculptures in clay
-
Good knowledge and experience in Bronze-casting and all relevant skills e.g. patina, TIG welding, mould making (various materials), Fibre-glass casting and Cement Casting
-
Drawing – both realistic (art) as well as technical drawings.
-
Good management skills
-
Work under strict Client input based commissions
-
Work under very tight deadline date
-
Works well in certain collaborative projects
I am a sculptor (with a Figurative Expressionist style influenced by French Sculptor August Rodin)