Andrew Verster

Andrew Verster (1937-) Artist and stage designer.

Biography

Born Johannesburg 1937.

Training

trained at the Camberwell School of Art and Reading University.

Career

Lectured at the University of Durban Westville (then University College, Durban) and the Natal Technikon until 1976 when he gave up teaching to become a full-time painter. Collaborated with the architect Hans Hallen on Mangosuthu Technikon and the Brenthurst Library. Writer of short stories, articles and radio plays (winner of the BBC World Service Playwriting Competition in 1992), You may leave, the show is over. The second was commissioned by the BBC, Future Past, featuring the voices of three former South African actresses, Janet Suzman, Rowena Copper and Estelle Kohler. Another, When in Rome, Don’t drink the water was shortlisted. Short story was broadcast by the BBC, AILEEN, MARJORIE, ARTHUR AND ME.

Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance

He designed the sets and costumes for Opera Africa’s Faust, Princess Magogo, and La Traviata and Rigoletto, and designs for the American production of Princess Magogo, 2004. Costumes for The Coolie Odyssey and for Threnody and Dances, a chamber opera, Women’s Festival in August 2002, costumes for Private Lives for the Hilton Festival and for the adult pantomime Sinderella and produced costumes for The Rock Horror Show at the Barnyard Theatre, 2004, and costumes for the Barnyard Theatre production of Grease 2006. 2002 DURBAN DESIGNER COLLECTION, 2002 and Miss India costumes. Durban Fashion Week 2005 featuring beadwork collection designed for the AFRICAN ART CENTRE. Film and Publication Review Board, Trustee of the Durban Art Gallery, the Arts Work Trust, Very Special Arts, Artists for Human Rights Trust and the African Art Centre. Committee of the Grahamstown Festival.

He has had over fifty solo exhibitions, is represented in many major public and private collections, and has been awarded two retrospective exhibitions organized by the Durban Art Gallery. Numerous public and private commissions, including sculpture and tapestry for the Reserve Bank Durban, art works Durban Hilton, tapestries and a mural, ABSA Headquarters, Johannesburg and a tapestry in the ICC Durban. Three tapestries for RHODES HOUSE in Oxford. Stainless steel screens for Metro Mall, Johannesburg. Commissions for the Constitutional Court including the entrance doors, carpets for the chamber and foyer, metal gates and chandeliers.Articles in Style Magazine, A VERY HAPPY SEDUCTION, about a visit to the Taj Mahal, and in INDIGO, FROM VARANASI TO CALCUTTA, a train journey, and INDIA, AN AFFFAIR OF THE HEART, and in LEADERSHIP and various architectural journals.

Was critic on the DAILY NEWS for twelve years and a weekly column, FROM THE BACKWATER for four.

Awards, etc

Best costume design in the FOOLS AWARDS 2003 and best costume design in the DURBAN THEATRE AWARDS 2004. FOOLS AWARDS 2005 6 7 best visual artist.

Sources

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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