Undercurrent Conversations

Cape Town based artist Dave Robertson has been producing artwork and exhibiting since the mid 90’s. Initially known for his photographic work, he has exhibited at several galleries in Germany, USA, the Netherlands and South Africa. Robertson spent the early part of his  journey as a visual artist, in the film industry, freelancing as an art director. In between film projects, he followed his passion for photography, which was primarily a form of social commentary, often concerned with documenting marginalised lifestyles. After winning a national prize at the Spier Contemporary competition in 2010, for ‘Paper trails’ a documentary project focusing on informal recyclers in Newtown, Johannesburg, he took a break from both photography and the film industry and began to teach himself to paint.

“I  consider myself a versatile visual artist who feels  happiest when pushing the limits of my  creative process, whether it be expressionist photography, abstract painting or printmaking. My work is often concerned  with the  in-between spaces  which are not immediately apparent but can be found just under the ‘skin’ of the perceived physical world. A place where fact and fiction, objectivity and subjectivity join hands in a magical dance. Where our  so-called physical reality seemingly invites aspects of the metaphysical world to show themselves in the work.”