Artists We Love: Alexis Aronson

INTERVIEWED BY Michaela Stehr

Cape Town artist Alexis Aronson speaks to VISI about her new murals at the Woodstock Arcade.

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I was born and brought up in Cape Town, though the last 10 years has seen me spend more time out of town than in it. I’m more of a nature girl than a city one, so I’ve tried my hand at living somewhere more quiet and rural, and exploring the diverse landscapes and cultures of Southern Africa. Curiosity and enquiry are, for me, crucial aspects of creativity (along with industriousness, commitment, rest, doubt, humour, and mild mental disorder – just off the cuff). My work (and worldview) seems to be constantly shifting, but there are still some strong currents: I want to reflect something soulful and strange that transports me during my creation process and transports the viewer too. I would like my work to remind people of a sense of broader connectedness with one other, to the non-human, to the unseen and the ancestral. I would like to stir imagination.

When did you start doing murals?

This is actually my first large-scale work since I was 10, when one of my school teachers commissioned me to paint a sunset mural on her garden wall! I’ve been wanting to work on this scale for a while now, so I’m really excited that it’s happening. 

What materials do you work in?

I’m still very much in exploration mode when it comes to materials. Recent “love affairs” have included intaglio printmaking (particularly etching into copper), mould making and casting (ceramic, cement and wax in preparation for bronze), and pasting, which is what I’m using for the mural (characters are created on brown paper and then applied to the wall using wallpaper paste). I would like to continue work in many media from painting and drawing to sculpture and installation, as well as expand my vocabulary and skills base.

Where do you draw inspiration from for your creations?

My primary inspiration is definitely the natural world and my relationship with the natural world. I also draw inspiration from dreams, mythology and storytelling, textile prints, traditional jewellery and decoration. The artists that inspire me are too numerous to list, but those with a keen eye will, I’m sure, pick up various influences.

Where can we see your work?

My latest work is up at 135 Albert Road at the new Woodstock Arcade (which is awesome!). You will see some great work by other local artists there too. My next large-scale work in Cape Town will be on Sea Point Promenade early next year (2015), as part of the Art54 project. The best thing to do at this stage is to follow me on Instagram or check out my website alexisaronson.com and contact me if something sparks your interest.