Connected through Nature: Rentia Retief at Nando’s Creative Exchange

Nando’s Creative Exchange (NCX) aims to recognise emerging South African fine artists who demonstrate exceptional ability and help them take the next steps in their careers. We spoke with Rentia Retief, one of the chosen local artists for the programme.

INTERVIEWED BY Gina Dionisio PHOTOS Supplied

Nando’s Creative Exchange (NCX) is the flagship artist development programme within the Nando’s Art Initiative. It aims to recognise emerging fine artists from Southern Africa who demonstrate exceptional talent. The programme provides these artists with the support they need to advance their careers to the next level.

Each year, the Spier Arts Trust selects four artists and a mentor for Nando’s Creative Exchange (NCX) programme, which includes mentorship, material sponsorship, and a group exhibition. The latest exhibition, The Promise, featured Lionel Mbayiwa, Rentia Retief, Kenneth Shandu, and Madeleine van Manen.

We spoke with Rentia to learn more about his Nando’s Creative Exchange journey.

Can you describe the central theme or message in your work for this year’s Nando’s Creative Exchange exhibition, The Promise? How does it connect to your overall artistic journey? 

The Promise is tied to my personal hope that I can live in a future where I live more connected with my surroundings instead of being a visitor to nature. 

Your practice involves a range of materials and techniques. How do you decide which medium to use for each piece, and what role do they play in conveying the messages you want to communicate? 

I work with oil paint on canvas and charcoal on paper. I feel with colour I have a tool to convey a reminiscence of the moment that has passed, while with drawing there is a sense of immediacy where the mark making tells a story about the art making process.    

How has your background and upbringing influenced the themes you explore in your art, especially in the context of socio-economic or environmental issues? 

I grew up in the Overberg in a rural, agricultural landscape where the community worked closely with nature for farming purposes. Being a lover of the outdoors, I would be very attuned to the changes of colour in the fields, and the texture of the soil depending on the seasons. The relationship that we have with our environment became a physical and visual story that I catalogue. 

This year’s mentorship has been with Nkosinathi Quwe, a 2018 NCX alumnus. How did his guidance impact your work and approach to the creative process? Were there any particular lessons that stood out for you? 

Nkosinathi has a good eye for formal elements in an artwork. He encouraged me to keep a connection with the type of surface I paint on. Instead of buying a pre-made canvas, rather work on an unstretched canvas that you prime yourself. It added an element of rawness to the work that tied well in with the concept of connecting with one’s surroundings. 

Art can often serve as a mirror to society. How do you think your work challenges or reflects the current socio-political and environmental issues in Southern Africa? 

I would love it if my work can bring a tinge of stillness to the viewer. 

The NCX programme offers not only exposure but also mentorship and support for professional growth. In what ways has this experience influenced your perspective on the business side of being an artist? 

It taught me to approach your work as a brand and business and only show your best work. Some pieces are part of the process but don’t necessarily need to leave the studio.

Can you tell us about a specific piece in the The Promise exhibition that holds personal significance for you, and what its creation process was like? 

I enjoyed working on ‘As it goes’. It was the first time that I reconnected with my usual creation process. I used to collect material to paint or draw from by either hiking, or cycling at remote places. In 2023 I unfortunately lost my leg in a cycling accident which altered my way of working for a while. I would paint scenes of where I would’ve liked to be instead of actually being there. But with the mentioned piece, I painted it after cycling a bike packing route again for the first time in a year. ‘As it goes’ was a little love letter to cycling again at Anysberg.   

Looking ahead, what are some of the goals you have for your art career in the coming years? How do you envision your practice evolving and impacting your community or the art world? 

I would like to take part in a couple of art residencies in the coming year or two. It would be lovely to work at remote places, but exhibit those works in cities to tell the story of the landscape that lies elsewhere. 

Spotlighting South African Talent

Many of the artists who have taken part in NCX have gone on to great things. For example, Tafadzwa Tega, NCX artist from 2019, has exhibited in Milan, Italy, and at the Cape Town Art Fair, where his exhibition – Zumbani – was a sell-out success.

Other NCX alumni, including Robyn Pretorius, Nkosinathi Quwe (2024’s mentor) and many others, have used the programme to catapult their careers to new heights, with their works being included in various local and internal exhibitions and art fairs, such as the 1-54 Africa art fair in London, as well as selling into various well-respected collections. | nandoscreativity.co.za

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