An East London-born artist who used to take glossy magazine photos of women in bikinis at exotic locations said he couldn’t be happier living in a mud house in the Eastern Cape bush and painting.
After years of doing fashion, advertising, and news photography in London and South Africa for publications such as Marie Claire, GQ, Men’s Health, Fair Lady and Leadership, Marc Pradervand decided to flee the rat race for dusty Riebeek East.
“I love his stories of lying in caves and copying Bushman/San artworks while the world outside was a foot deep under snow.
“Not to mention his fanatical zeal when it came to planting tree seeds and then talking and being very nice and polite to these wonderful trees as they grew up.”
Port St Johns legend Ben Dekker’s “many forms of artistic inspiration” is another favourite.
Pradervand, who is in East London today to run the Surfers Challenge, will be holding his first East London exhibition at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery next week.
He said even though his work had been surprisingly well received, he sometimes encountered “unhappy punters”.
“One Jozi gentleman complained I was, “grossly insulting me as a white man. Yuk yuk yuk.
“It was precisely then I realised I was doing something of value and should continue at full steam. Thank you, Mr Yuk Yuk Yuk.”
Pradevand’s Happy New Fear exhibition features 15 paintings.
Having turned his back on the high life by choice, he says he couldn’t be happier.
Widespread praise for his work includes this gem from famous South African author and musician Rian Malan: “Pradervand is ruder than Brett Murray and much funnier too. Don’t miss this exhibition.”
The exhibition runs from Thursday until March 3.
‘Feral’ bush artist set to exhibit
After years of doing fashion, advertising, and news photography in London and South Africa for publications such as Marie Claire, GQ, Men’s Health, Fair Lady and Leadership, Marc Pradervand decided to flee the rat race for dusty Riebeek East.
“I love his stories of lying in caves and copying Bushman/San artworks while the world outside was a foot deep under snow.
“Not to mention his fanatical zeal when it came to planting tree seeds and then talking and being very nice and polite to these wonderful trees as they grew up.”
Port St Johns legend Ben Dekker’s “many forms of artistic inspiration” is another favourite.
Pradervand, who is in East London today to run the Surfers Challenge, will be holding his first East London exhibition at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery next week.
He said even though his work had been surprisingly well received, he sometimes encountered “unhappy punters”.
“One Jozi gentleman complained I was, “grossly insulting me as a white man. Yuk yuk yuk.
“It was precisely then I realised I was doing something of value and should continue at full steam. Thank you, Mr Yuk Yuk Yuk.”
Pradevand’s Happy New Fear exhibition features 15 paintings.
Having turned his back on the high life by choice, he says he couldn’t be happier.
Widespread praise for his work includes this gem from famous South African author and musician Rian Malan: “Pradervand is ruder than Brett Murray and much funnier too. Don’t miss this exhibition.”
The exhibition runs from Thursday until March 3.
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