Gordon Vorster

Gordon Vorster (1924-1988) Novelist, painter, filmmaker and film actor. Wrote poetry, produced over 100 documentaries and wrote the novels Textures of Silence (1983) and Spinning by Fire. Held more than 60 exhibitions of his paintings internationally. Won the 1971 best Actor award for *** The Guest?? . ???

Biography

Born in Warrenton, near Kimberley, on the 17th of September 1924, the son of Paul Philippus Vorster and Nancy Christina Clack. He also had one brother and two sisters.

His father was a diamond digger and the family led a nomadic life. Gordon thus got to know the Kalahari and Griqualand at an early stage of his life. Much of his art shows this influence.

Educated at the Diamantveld Hoërskool in Kimberley, he originally intended to become an accountant but during the second world war he joined the S.A. Air Force and saw service in North Africa and Italy. His experiences in Italy fostered an interest in art, which he then studied at the University of the Witwatersrand. He initially worked in the film industry, but later concentrated on his career as artist.

He was married to Martha Yvonne van Schalkwyk (1924-1988)

Vorster died on 9th October 1988.

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

In 1950 he joined the Killarney Film Studios as Art Director and became involved in making both documentary and feature films as writer, producer and director.

In 1963 he left full-time filming to concentrate on painting, holding his first exhibition in 1964. His works now hang in South African art museums and in corporate and private collections in South Africa and overseas.

An accomplished actor, Vorster was awarded the 'Oscar' of the South African Motion Picture Producer's Association for his performance in the film Pappa Lap and won two Star Tonight Awards for The Story of an African Farm and The Pain.

Gordon 's first novel, The Textures of Silence, won the prestigious Golden Cape prize.

He also wrote full-length play, Time Till Sundown, the text typed but unpublished.