by Patrick Ogle

Atang Tshikare, from Bloemfontein in South Africa, is a self-taught artist who works in various media creating sculpture. His work is being show by Southern Guild at Design Miami 2016.

His pieces have an unusual wrinkle; their origins are on the artists own stories. Tshikare creates a narrative and then, literally, gives it form. It wasn’t always in this order according to the artist.

“The sculptures informed the story at first but after the third piece the roles switched a bit because they had to work hand in hand. So now I have a story written  with some missing details and that’s where the sculptures come in and overtake the story and the mix just goes back in a fluid mix between what part is stronger. It’s like a relationship with two strong individuals where each takes precedence according to their strengths.” says Tshikare.

His new works are in bronze but that is not the only medium he has used.

“I’ve worked in multiple media – from wood, clay, plastic, paper and so on, but I’ve always wanted something that lasted permanently and had great value so I wanted to try bronze. When I did I discovered the idea I had could be manipulated much quicker and there was less stress about the stability,” he says. “Unlike clay there was no need to worry about the material getting damaged in the kiln and all the problems most of the materials have. So, a combination of strong, steady and treasured values made bronze more appealing.”

The stories are complex and whichever direction the influence moves, from story to sculpture to story or story to sculpture, there is a complexity to the interaction.

“I use my tacit knowledge to work between the different focuses and It’s like riding a bicycle and explaining a sum at the same time whilst you are thinking of the fastest route to your home. When you have a controlled multiple personality you feel laid back and it just happens.” he says.

Tshikare never “decided” to become an artist; he says it was almost a bequest, a revelation of what was already in him.

“Being an artist is like learning the words to your favorite rapper’s song till you know the lyrics and then one day you’re making your own album. You practice what you’re natural at and attract it in multiple streams." he says.

Thus, it’s not something that you decide to become, you just reveal it to yourself.

“I am self-taught like my dad is and it’s the best route because it’s genetic and the skills are indelible, other paths to this career are harder and getting taught can increase your technical skill but deep inside it’s a want that you can’t turn off.” says Tshikare.

His new work is meant, in some way, to attract you, to draw n to it and not just in proximity.

"My new work is a shadow that you will tail because you’re trying to catch up with the enigma. I will only say that people  can understand the perspective I’ve
displayed because I’ve taken a piece of narrative and created a journey per my vision. I know it’s a comprehensive answer but because I am a universal mammal that wants to give a forward-thinking view of Africa I can only give this answer so people can come in for a closer look," he says. "The truth behind my art is a more elaborate labyrinth with some mystical manifestations that the West refers to as 'Law of Attraction'. So over the months I will keep people attracted to the lighter side of the work by making it accessible as sculptures with a design feature like lights, seating and so forth.“

His expectations for Miami include raising awareness about the possibilities available from Africa (as well as answering guestions about the same.) There are other hopes besides: “A mix of imaginative and curious reactions that will release mass abundance from receptacles to attract more creatures from Atang.”

by Patrick Ogle

Johan Wahlstrom, from Stockholm, blends politics, commercial imagery, abstraction and other sorts of modern iconography into work that is a sharp rebuke, a stick in the eye, of fascism and authoritarianism of any stripe. He will be appearing as part of Fridge Art Fair in Miami Beach in 2016. Beyond the meaning there is also an aesthetic appeal, an eye-drawing attractiveness and provocativeness to the pieces.

Wahlstrom says that he is happiest when his work gets one of two reactions--love or hate.
 
"In both cases the viewer will not forget my work!" he says.

Before devoting himself to art full time Wahlstrom was a successful musician. He toured for nearly 20 years playing with the likes of Ian Hunter (Mott the Hoople), Graham Parker, Mick Ronson and others. When he moved on to painting he also moved to France and spent seven years doing nothing but hone his craft. The two careers, however, are not totally divorced from one another.

"I was used to performing in front of an audience as a musician and today when I paint, many of my paintings features large groups of faces; these are to me the audience reactions, feelings and emotions on my paintings which feature clear political and social statements." he says.

 His work, being political, has an eye on changing people's minds or at the least making them think. Making this happen isn't just about the quality of the art, however.

"It is difficult to have art matter to everyone. However, the more press coverage an artist gets, the more people will be reached. I have had several articles the last few years in the USA and Europe with my political/socially engaged art," he says. "I am confident that I have got some people to start to think about what they can do to be part of a positive change in our society for us and for generations to come. My art practice is focused on to be part of the debate and to be part of positive changes in the society."

It isn't just how good you are or what you have to say; it is delivering that message to the largest audience you can.

Perhaps the attention his work gets is due to it universality. There are famous faces that jump out at us like Trump and Putin but there are other faces, many of them, often buried in the work.

"My distorted/tribal faces figures from around the world are the audience, you, me etc." says Wahlstrom (They are) reactions. feelings, emotions to my clear political & social subject such as the Trumps/Putins and many other subjects."

Wahlstrom's work has progressed through three series:

A. House Of Lies (a series with a wide range of political and social subjects in our society´s focused on USA, Europe and Middle East).

B. Walls-Aliens With Extra Ordinary Abilities ( a series about immigration, refugees, walls that are already built, might
get built, walls in our minds where we divide one group from another group).

C. New York Stories (a series with reflections on daily situations in New York City).

"Linked to the three series, I have tons of titles written done on paper linked to the series," he says. "And in my studio, I find what title to paint and then I focus on the title and do  my best to portray that title on canvas."

He was asked to bring some work for the Fridge Art Fair by his friend and the fair's founder, Eric Ginsburg.

"I am a good friend of Eric Ginsburg and when he asked me to be part of Fridge at The Besty Hotel in Miami, I was happy to say yes," he says. "The Art Basel week in Miami is one of the most important art events in the world and of course I am happy to show a couple of my works."

After the Miami Wahlstrom is preparing for solo shows in Stockholm, New York, Laguna Beach and outside Chicago in Bensenville.

"My agent is working hard to continue to  place me in important group shows in galleries/museums where I will be showing alongside with "the big names" in the art world." he says.

Keep an eye open for his work. You may have seen him over the past year in shows that featured artists such as Gerhard Richter, Shepard Fairey, Dino & Jake Chapman, Joseph Beuys, Nedko Solakov, Gavin Turk, Carlos Aires, Riiko Sakkinen and Nicola Verlato.