Exhibitions

FORM | STILTE

The Sasol Art Museum at Stellenbosch University in conjunction with Maree Modern & Contemporary, featured a major mid-career retrospective exhibition of the work of Vivian van der Merwe in September 2013. The exhibition comprised more than 60 notable works dating from 1974 to his most recent large scale compositions.

Please scroll down for a complete list of solo and group exhibitions.

Stills from the Sasol Art Museum installation.

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Exhibitions

Exhibitions

Exhibitions:

Participation in more than forty group exhibitions since 1977, including:

  • Inaugural exhibition of the Watershed Gallery, Cape Town [1978]
  • New Names exhibition, South African Association of Arts, Cape Town [1981]
  • Inaugural exhibition of Battswood Art Centre, Cape Town [1984]
  • Volkskas Bank Atelier exhibitions [1984 and 1988]
  • George XVI exhibition of South African art, Strydom Gallery, George [1984-2007]
  • Everard Read exhibition, Johannesburg [1985]
  • Annual exhibition of emerging South African artists, Gallery 709, Cape Town [1986]
  • School of Art and Design staff exhibitions , Port Elizabeth [annual exhibitions 1986-91]
  • Artists for Democracy, Walmer Civic Centre, Port Elizabeth [1988]
  • Inaugural exhibition of the Cuyler Gallery, Port Elizabeth [1990]
  • Exhibition of works nominated for Vista University public commission [1991]
  • GAP exhibition, King George VI Art Museum, Port Elizabeth [1992]
  • Commemorative exhibition: 120th year of Faculty of Art & Design, Port Elizabeth Technikon [1993]
  • Guild Gallery selected artists' exhibition, Pretoria [1996]
  • Beeldende Kunste Personeel exhibitions, Cape Town [annual exhibitions 1996-99]
  • Invitation group exhibition, Johannes Stegmann Gallery, University of Bloemfontein [1997]
  • Stellenbosch Gallery, annual Salon for invited artists, Stellenbosch [1999]
  • The Sutherland Experience, Worcester Art Gallery, Worcester [1999]
  • Exhibition of four South African artists' work, University of Stellenbosch Art Gallery [1999]
  • The Art of Drawing (national exhibition), Dorp Street Gallery, Stellenbosch [2000]
  • SPIT I, II & III Exhibitions, Stellenbosch University [2001, 2002 and 2005]
  • Cabinet Reshuffle (curated by Julia Meintjes), Tokara Gallery, Stellenbosch [2008]
  • 10 Philosophical Questions. Stellenbosch University Gallery [2008]
  • Back to the Future. Abstract Art in South Africa. Past and Present. SMAC, Stellenbosch [2013]

Solo exhibitions

Solo exhibitions:

  • Caledon, Western Cape region (Large-scale land artwork) [1977]
  • Arena Theatre, University of Cape Town. Interdisciplinary installation [1979]
  • South African College of Music, University of Cape Town. (Conceptual event) [1980]
  • Michaelis School of Fine Art. Exhibition of figure drawings [1980]
  • Irma Stern Museum, Cape Town. (Postgraduate exhibition) [1984]
  • University of Stellenbosch Art Gallery. (Invitation exhibition) [1985]
  • Wellington College, Cape. (Invitation exhibition) [1985]
  • E.P.S.F.A. Gallery, Port Elizabeth. [1985]
  • South African Association of Art Gallery, Cape Town. [1986]
  • Exhibition of drawings, Central Art Studio, Port Elizabeth [1992]
  • Dorp Street Art Gallery, Stellenbosch. [1998]
  • Exhibition of paintings and drawings; inaugural exhibition of Tokara Gallery, Stellenbosch [2001]
  • Exhibition of paintings and drawings, University of Stellenbosch Art Gallery [2001/2002]
  • Exhibition of nude drawings, Grande Provence Gallery, Franschhoek [2006]
  • Form | Stilte: Mid-career retrospective exhibition. Sasol Art Museum, Stellenbosch [2013]

Commisions

Commissions:

Numerous private and public commissions since 1978 include:

  • Portrait of first female city councillor elected to Cape Town City Council, Mary Olsen. [1979]
  • Co-illustration of commemorative edition of Byron's Don Juan; by the University of Cape Town in conjunction with the Brenthurst Press (for Harry Oppenheimer's 80th birthday). [1988]
  • Commissioned to illustrate 'Vectors', collection of poetry by English-Italian poet, Daniel Stolfi. [pub. 1992]
  • Large-scale abstract painting for Conference Hall foyer, Vista University, Port Elizabeth. [1993]
  • Drawing for headquarters of Prolantic Telecommunications, Cape Town. [1998]
  • Drawings for Prolantic (Pty) Ltd, United Kingdom. [2000]
  • Large work for Cologne Reinsurance corporate collection, Johannesburg. [2000]
  • Two works for Spanish hotel group NH Hotels. Somerset West. [2003]
  • 10 Works commissioned by University of Stellenbosch for 10 South African corporate collections

Collections

Collections:

Works in corporate, public and private collections in South Africa and abroad including:

  • The South African National Gallery, Cape Town
  • University of Cape Town Collection
  • University of Stellenbosch Collection
  • Port Elizabeth Technikon Collection
  • Vista University; Port Elizabeth
  • ABSA Bank Collection
  • De Beers Collection
  • SASOL Collection
  • Telkom Collection
  • Prolantic Telecommunications Collection, Johannesburg and Cape Town
  • Cologne Reinsurance Company Art Collection
  • Collection of late Jacques Derrida, Paris
  • Harry Oppenheimer Collection, Johannesburg
  • Collection of Toshio Kanamaru, Tokyo
  • Tokara Corporate Collection, Stellenbosch
  • Buchanan Collection, Los Angeles.
  • Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Museum, Port Elizabeth.