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Ruan Hoffman selfie -
Jardin des Plantes tea set, from R325 to R1220, Anthropologie -
Jardin des Plantes dinner plates, from R255 to R430, Anthropologie -
Side plates, R150 each, Woolworths -
Droplets shower curtain, R1550, Anthropologie
WORDS Debbie Loots
No need to long in vain for a Ruan Hoffmann artwork of your own anymore, now that this celebrated local ceramic artist has teamed up with Woolworths to produce a bespoke range of homeware.
Not long ago, Ruan’s work was only available as fine art. Known for his poignant one-liners and spontaneous drawings on unevenly shaped ceramic plates, he always preferred his work to develop from an emotive space, leaving room enough for that element of surprise.
In 2011 however, during an exhibition in US store Anthropologie, the retailer encouraged the self-taught ceramicist to spread his wings and turn the ordinary into the extraordinary. “It’s a big thing to ask of an everyday object,” says Ruan. But, boasting 30 years of experience, Ruan is not one to say no to a challenge, and soon a beautiful collection of floral-inspired homeware graced the retailer’s aisles.
Back home, what can we expect from Ruan in the aisles of Woolies? Inspired by Japanese woodblock painting and classic Eastern images, for the first range, Ruan’s free-flowing expressionistic style has infused Zen with a contemporary shot of zing. This is but one of the collections though, and Ruan advises to look out for the still-in-production blue-and-white Annette set that, with its wind-blown camellia motif, is sure to knock our socks off.
