About Johann van der Schijff

Johann van der Schijff is an artist living and working in Cape Town, South Africa. His work deals with questions of power relations in society. The undercurrent of apartheid and the pervasiveness of violence in its wake, lies beneath much of his thinking. His work takes on a highly personal and at times playful dimension where he reflects on the contradiction and dichotomies of living in a society of enormous disparities and oppositions.

He is an Associate Professor in the sculpture section of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. He holds a Master of Fine Art (new media) (1997) Frank Mohr Instituut, Academie Minerva, Groningen, The Netherlands; a Master of Fine Art (sculpture) (1994), University of Cape Town; and a Bachelor of Fine Art, University of Pretoria (1990). His sculptural/new media works have been exhibited nationally and internationally.

For an extensive selection of images of his artistic work and additional supportive video clips and text, please refer to www.johannvds.co.za

Contact Details

Cape Town, South Africa
c: +27 (0)82 330 5335 | e: johannvds@me.com
www.johannvds.co.za | LinkedIn | Facebook

Solo Exhibitions

• STATE OF EMERGENCY, solo exhibition, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, 29 August – 5 October 2019
• Snapshot, solo exhibition, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, 1 February – 24 February 2018
• In a Different Time, solo exhibition, Fried Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria, 26 January – 25 February 2017
• I to I, solo exhibition, Gallery AOP, Johannesburg, 28 November – 19 December 2015 and 14 – 30 January 2016
• Community Punching Bags or CPBs project – an artwork by Johann van der Schijff in collaboration with art educators and high school learners from and around Cape Town, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, 10 – 29 July 2012
• Community Punching Bags or CPBs – an artwork by Johann van der Schijff in collaboration with art teachers and learners from Cape Town, Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe, Cape Town, 23 May – 16 June (extended until 23 June) 2012
• The Arm-Wrestling Podium or AWP, solo exhibition, Worldart Gallery, Cape Town, 1 November – 9 November 2007
• Power Play, solo exhibition, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, 25 April – 20 May 2006
• YIELD – solo installation, Ziegler Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, 1997
• An Electronic Laager – solo exhibition, Master of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 1994

Group Exhibitions

• Boschendal Sculpture Garden, group exhibition, Boschendal Wine Estate, Franschhoek, 27 October 2017 – 23 January 2018
• La Techné, l’Art du Designer, 6th Edition of the International Festival of Contemporary Art of Algiers – FIAC 2014, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMA), Algiers, Algeria, 10 November – 2 December (artist workshop), 3 December – 28 February 2015 (accompanying exhibition)
• Going Forward, Yango Biennale 2014, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 21 November – 19 December 2014
• Capital: Contemporary – a selection of works of artists who originally come from Pretoria but who now live and work elsewhere and who have a strong national and or international presence, Fried Contemporary Gallery, Pretoria, 15 November – 13 December 2014
• Brave New World. . . 20 Years of Democracy – a selection of works acquired between 1994 and 2014 for the permanent collection, Iziko South African National Gallery (ISANG), Cape Town, 3 July – 1 November 2014
• 3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, Biscuiterie, Dakar, Senegal, 10 – 31 December 2010
• Spier Contemporary Winners Tour, Polokwane Museum, Polokwane, 8 November – 8 December 2010
• Draw links – an exhibition of contemporary drawings, Gallery AOP (Art on Paper), Johannesburg, 9 – 30 October 2010
• Spier Contemporary Winners Tour, Aardklop Festival, North West University, Potchefstroom, 27 September – 2 October 2010
• Spier Contemporary Winners Tour, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, 27 July – 15 August 2010
• Spier Contemporary Winners Tour, Eastern Province Society of Arts and Crafts, Port Elizabeth, 17 June – 17 July 2010
• TWENTY – South African Sculpture of the Last Two Decades, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg, 6 June – 15 August 2010
• Own Goal, The Association of the visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town, 31 May – 25 June 2010
• Current Matters, The Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, 18 April – 19 May 2010
• Salon Africain du Design, Cotonou, Benin, 26 – 30 April 2010
• Spier Contemporary 2010, Cape Town City Hall, Cape Town, 14 March – 14 May 2010. Prizewinner: Artist-in-Residency award, Thamgidi Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands
• Temporary Art Product Exchange or T-A-P-E, Made in Arnhem festival of visual arts, Arnhem, The Netherlands, 27 September – 25 October 2009
• Ways of life, reconsideration, Exhibition of African designers, 2nd edition of the Pan-African Festival of Algiers, Le Musée national d’art moderne et contemporain d’Alger (MAMA), Algeria, 5 July – 20 July 2009
• Spot on… DAK’ART, The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, ifa), ifa-Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 3 April – 21 June 2009 & ifa-Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany, 15 October 2009 – 3 January 2010
• A century in the service of knowledge: Visuality/Commentary. The Centenary exhibition of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 11 – 23 May 2008
• DAK’ART 2008, International Exhibition of the Biennale of African Contemporary Art, Théodore Monod Museum (IFAN), Dakar, Senegal, 9 May – 9 June. Prizewinner of two main awards: European Union Award & Zuloga Corporation Award 2008
• Joburg Art Fair, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, 13 – 16 March 2008
• The Arm-Wrestling Podium or AWP, unveiling of public sculpture, The AVA in collaboration with the J.K. Gross Trust and Spier, The Association of the visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town, 1 November 2007
• Home, curated group exhibition, The Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town, 26 September – 6 October 2006
• Public Sculpture Competition and exhibition, J.K. Gross Trust, Spier and the Association For Visual Arts, Cape Town, 23 August – 1 September 2006
• Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), curated group exhibition, Oudshoorn, 25 March – 2 April 2005
• Curiosity CLXXV, Hiddingh Hall, Cape Town, 22 November – 1 April 2004
• The Design Indaba Expo, Bell Roberts Gallery Stand, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, 26 – 29 February 2004
• The 2nd Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennale, Spier estate, Stellenbosch, 15 January – 15th March 2004
• Picnic, a group show for summer lightly curated by Andrew Lamprecht, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, 8 – 29 November 2003
• YDEsire, The 4th Softserve Art Party, The Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, 22 February 2003
• Michaelis School of Fine Art Staff, Variable Contrast – group exhibition as part of The Cape Town Month Of Photography exhibition, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 2002
• Insig Bioskoop Absolut – animation festival, Klein Karoo Kunsfees, Oudtshoorn, 2002
• Yield – group installation as part of URBAN FUTURES exhibition, Civic Theatre Gallery, Johannesburg, 2000
• Unplugged– group exhibition, Market Theatre Gallery, Johannesburg, 2000
• Groundswell – contemporary South African art exhibition, The Mermaid Theatre Gallery, London, UK, 1996
• Radio South Africa: radio’s by artists – group exhibition, Kunsthal, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1995
• Johannesburg Bienale – fringe exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1995
• Transport Show – group exhibition, Everard Read Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1994
• Volkskas Atelier Award – competition, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1993
• Volkskas Atelier Award – competition, regional finalists, Cape Town, South Africa, 1993
• Volkskas Atelier Award – competition, finalists, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1991
• USA Information Service – group exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa. 1990
• Private group exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa, 1990
• SANLAM bursary competition – competition, Cape Town, South Africa, 1989 – 1990
• Sasol New Signatures competition, overall winner 1988, Pretoria, South Africa, 1988 – 1990

Awards

• 2013
 – UCT Creative Works Award – Community Punching Bags. The Creative Works Award was established to recognise major creative works, including art works, performances, productions, compositions and architectural designs produced by UCT staff.
• 2010
 – Spier Contemporary 2010, Cape Town City Hall, Cape Town, 14 March – 14 May. Prizewinner: Artistin- Residency award, Thamdigi Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands.
• 2008
 – International Exhibition of the Biennale of African Contemporary Art, DAK’ART 2008, Dakar, Senegal, 9 May to 9 June. Prizewinner of two main awards: European Union Award & Zuloga Corporation Award.
• 2006
 – Winner Public Sculpture Competition, Association For Visual Arts, Cape Town
• 1991
 – Merit award Volkskas Atelier Award
• 1990
 – Merit award New Signatures Competition, South African Association of Arts
• 1990
 – Runner up Best rag magazine, South African Universities – Editor
• 1989
 – Winner Best rag magazine, South African Universities – Editor
• 1988
 – Overall winner New Signatures Competition, South African Association of Arts
• 1986
 – Best matric art student, Afrikaanse Höer Seunskool

Publications

• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2015. I to I – a solo exhibition by Johann van der Schijff, Johannesburg, November 2015 – January 2016 (exhibition catalogue), University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 1-42. ISBN: 978-0-620-53521-2
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2012. Community Punching Bags or CPBs – an artwork by Johann van der Schijff in collaboration with art teachers and learners from Cape Town (exhibition catalogue), University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 1-85. ISBN: 978-0-620-53521-2
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2010. Heartbreaker, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 56-60. ISBN: 978-0-620-48450-3
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2008. Participatory Podia, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 86-91. ISBN: 978-0-620-42166-9
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2006. Iron Triangle, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 70-73. ISBN: 978-0-620-37407-1
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2005. Power Play (exhibition catalogue). Bell-Roberts Publishing, Cape Town. 1-24. ISBN: 0-9585104-7-4
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2003. Missile/Missile, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 55-59.
• EBERT, D. (ed.) 1997. ACM SIGGRAPH 97 Visual Proceedings. The Art and Interdisciplinary Programs of SIGGRAPH 97. New York: The Association for Computer Machinery, Inc. ISBN 0-89791-921-1 page 144, The Virtual Harvester Project.
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 1997. The Virtual Harvester. Documentation and commentary on the body of practical work submitted for Postgraduate Programme in New Media, Academie Minerva, Hogeschool van Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 51 pages.
• VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 1994. An Electronic Laager. Documentation and commentary on the body of practical work submitted for the degree of Master of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town. 110 pages.

Presentations

• Community Punching Bags as part of a round table discussion What are the components needed to create a good platform for intercultural dialogue and art? Oslo Platform, 54th Venice Biennial, Italy, June 2 2011
• Artist presentation, Thamgidi Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands, 19 June 2010
• Salon Africain du Design, Cotonou, Benin, 26 – 30 April 2009
• Ways of Life, Reconsideration, Exhibition of African designers, 2nd edition of the Pan-African Festival of Algiers. Related conference at École supérieure des beaux arts d’Alger (ESBA) Parc Ziryab – Boulevard Krim Belkacem, Algeria, 6 July 2008
• Conference Co-Chair, DIS2008 – the ACM conference on Designing Interactive Systems, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday 25 February – Wednesday 27 February, http://old.sigchi.org/dis2008/ or http://www.sigchi.org/dis2008/ 2006
• Chair, New forms of interaction session, DIS2006 – the ACM conference on Designing Interactive Systems, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA, Monday June 26 2004
• Design Symposium, Reflections on design and design education, Department of Fine Arts, University of Stellenbosch, 29 – 30 March 2002
• UCT Film and New Media Institute, Sithengi, The 7th Southern African International Film and Television Market, Cape Town, 10 – 14 November
• UCT Institute for Film and New Media, DEFSA (Design Education Forum of South Africa) National Conference, Design, Research and Development, Clarens, Eastern Free State, 22 – 24 September
• Web design and the use of the Web in film and new media production, 4th Annual Conference on World Wide Web Applications, University of Stellenbosch Business School, Bellville, Cape Town, 4 – 5 September
• Institute for Film and New Media, CITI Listening Lunch – public presentation. Cape Information Technology Initiative, The Bandwidth Barn, Cape Town, 12 July 1999
• Two Opposing Trends – Partitioning of media subjects at educational Level, Convergence of media in the workplace – public presentation, DEFSA 1999 – Design Fusion: The development of design beyond 2000, Johannesburg 1997
• The Virtual Harvester – public presentation, SIGGRAPH 97 Art & Design Sketches, Los Angeles, USA
• The Virtual Harvester – public presentation, Postgraduate Programme in New Media, MEDIA-GN, Groningen, The Netherlands

Education

• 2015
 – MultiCam, Inc. Specialized EnRoute with Operator Training Dallas, Texas, United States of America
• 2013 
– Autodesk Inventor, Inventor Advanced Part Modelling Course, Modena Design Centres, Cape Town, South Africa (SA)
• 2012
 – Exchange project on prototyping methods and design materials, David Cuartillies' Arduino course, Malmo University, School of Arts and Communication, Sweden
• 2002
 – Macromedia Dreamweaver Course,
Hirt and Carter (Cape), Cape Town, SA
• 2002
 – Macromedia Flash Course, Concept Interactive, Cape Town, SA
• 1997
 – Alias/Wavefront – Level 2 Animation Course,
Silicon Graphics Computer System, Johannesburg, SA
• 1997
 – Master of Fine Art,
Frank Mohr Instituut, (previously Media-GN & SCAN), Academie Minerva, Hanze University for Professional Education, Groningen, The Netherlands
• 1994
 – Multimedia Course, Hirt and Carter Graphics, Cape Town, SA
• 1994
 – Master of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, SA
• 1990
 – Bachelor of Fine Art,
University of Pretoria, SA

Work experience

• 2012 to present, Associate Professor, Fine Art (Sculpture), Michaelis School of Fine Art (Michaelis), University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa (SA)
• 2007 to 2011 – Senior Lecturer, Fine Art (New Media), Michaelis, UCT, Cape Town, SA
• 2001 to 2006 – Lecturer, Fine Art (New Media), Michaelis, UCT, Cape Town, SA
• 1999 to 2001 – Senior Lecturer, Fine Art (Multimedia), Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg (previously Technikon Witwatersrand), Johannesburg, SA
• 1998 to 1999 – Creative Director, SHiFT Interactive Communication, Johannesburg, SA
• 1997 to 1998 – 3D Computer Animator, DELAPSE – broadcast design / motion graphics, Johannesburg, SA
• 1995 – Creative Director, Coca-Cola Dome, HAPTICS, Johannesburg, SA
• 1995 – 3D Computer Animator, Hassall House, multimedia productions, Johannesburg, SA
• 1992 to 1994
 – Assistant to sculptor David Brown; worked on commission and erection of sculpture for Mr. Charles Diamond, Henley on Thames, United Kingdom, Cape Town / Henley UK
• 1989 to 1990 – Assistant photographer, Graeme Bridger Photography, Pretoria, SA
• 1988 to 1989 
– Editor of Rag Magazine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, SA
• 1988 – Assistant to sculptor Ettiene de Kock, Pretoria, SA
• 1988 – Third man, steel smelting ISCOR (now ArcelorMittal), Vanderbijlpark, SA
• 1987 – Marketing portfolio, Rag Committee, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, SA