Artist Database

Johan Stegmann is recognized for highly detailed charcoal drawings and etchings, blending a classical Euro-centric style with subversive elements. His art combines different historical periods, showcasing colliding identities, ideologies, and perspectives. Stegmann's work explores his own identity, often using it as a platform for performative expression, evident in installations, public engagements, and video pieces. He describes his practice as "Johannesburg-based, using Charcoal, Etchings, and Explosions." Employing the aesthetics and techniques of Renaissance and Romantic art, he crafts narratives rooted in history while incorporating iconography from popular culture, political figures, and South African conflicts to examine contemporary identity, particularly his Afrikaans background. His recent work involves lino cutting, inspired by Pierneef's graphical work, fostering a dialogue with the renowned South African landscape artist.