Niel Jonker

Fragile beings

Art Times, September 2022:

Jonker also pays an element of homage to workers in clay like Noria Mabasa, Henrietta Ngako, and Wilma Cruise who depict animals and humans in a biomorphic way infusing human features, qualities, and postures into animal forms. Like them, Jonker allows us to identify with the animals and see ourselves as part of them. Through this, we reconnect with a part of our past in our quest to become whole.

This deeply contemplative, quiet, and moving exhibition carries the weight of history, and the power of our link to the natural world and embodies our quest for meaning in turbulent times.

Gordon Froud, senior lecturer and HoD, Department of Visual Art, University of Johannesburg.

Klipvis series: Skerpvis”, terracotta, 74x10x44cm.

“Rooivis/Red stone fish”, terracotta, 105x15x38cm.

From the ongoing Fragile Beings series: