Errol Theunissen
University: Self-Taught
New Blood Art Commentary
Notable Achievements 2023
Read Errol's guest curation for What Artists Like #2
In Errol Theunissen’s paintings, day-to-day activities feel strange, exciting, full of possibility. Looking at the paintings, we are immediately drawn to the people around which the compositions revolve. However, the human body occupies relatively little pictorial space. It is the surrounding space that makes the paintings full of intrigue and interest, providing possibilities for narrative. The frequent depiction of animals, in particular dogs, puts the human body into action, holding a ball or toy, or simply engaging in an act of play. All of this is key to building a composition, yet no less important are the layers of meaning encoded in the images. Colour appears heightened with an unexpected vibrancy, something that Theunissen attributes to his memories of Africa. As such, the paintings are situated somewhere between past and present, between memory and now. It is this that makes them feel so pertinent and pressing.
Artist Statement
l mainly paint in oil. I often use situations in my environment, home, and community as my subject matter. I do not feel I need to go searching for inspiration or beauty, but I seeks it in his day-to-day surroundings, my own everyday experiences, my memories of Africa and stories I have heard or photos I have seen relating go my interesting family history. I also include animals in some of my work. The relationship between humans and animals has a special place in my practice as I am aware of the importance of animals and the benefits of our relationships with them in this complex world, we live in. It is as if I capture beautiful moments between people or people and animals and transfer these moments from his mind to canvas. I use a bright colour palette in my work which gives vibrancy and life to my paintings which often tell a story. Despite now living in the U.K. I am still closely linked to Africa through my use of colour and sometimes my subject matter.