Notes

Artist's Bio

Froud has been involved in the art world as artist, educator, curator and gallerist for more than 35 years. He has shown on hundreds of solo and group shows. Froud graduated with a BA (FA) Hons from Wits University, and a master’s degree from the University of Johannesburg, where he heads the department of Visual Art. He regularly shows on more than 20 exhibitions a year. He is represented in many public and private collections. His solo show was showcased at the Standard Bank Gallery as Harmonia: Sacred Geometry – Pattern of Existence, which traveled to major South African galleries and museums in 2018/19.

Artist's Statement

These mixed media drawings depict 3 views from the roof of the famous August House Art Studio building in New Doornfontein, Johannesburg. At the time of preparing for my Standard Bank show Harmonia: Sacred Geometry – The Pattern of Existence, 2018, I was living and working in my studio at August House. I drew these views of Johannesburg to highlight the inherent geometry in the city. From the planning of cities to the buildings themselves, geometry plays an integral part. I highlighted geometric shapes in either black or white to create a visual flicker across the composition. All three panels were drawn to the golden mean and the golden spiral and this spiral features as an overlay on the surface. The work speaks of my love for the city of my birth and recalls wonderful times on the roof of August House.

Cité Experience

I was fortunate enough to have a 3-month residency at the Cité from June to August 2000. I was housed in the New Annex, a modern, spacious building. On my arrival, I had the customary meeting with Madam Brunau and booked an exhibition that became known as The Grande Picnic. For the exhibition, I produced sculptural works entirely out of plastic cutlery and crockery – creating architectural pieces resembling columns, baptismal fonts and arches. The material exposed me to the notion of the module and repetition that later became the focus of my master’s degree at the University of Johannesburg. This residency is the only time in my life that I could entirely be an artist. I met wonderful artists from all over the world, drank red wine and ate baguettes with cheese on the Siene while attempting to read Ulysses outside Shakespeare and Company (where it was published). These memories remain cherished and helped me to remain a committed artist in the artworld.