 Daphne Kohn Art Gallery (Kunsgallery) Daphne Kohn (neè Kruger) was born in Naboomspruit in the Northern Province (Limpopo) in 1950. She studied at the University of Pretoria, obtaining a BSc degree majoring in mathematics and geology. Daphne started her working career as curator of the Geological Museum, attending Minette Zaayman's pottery classes in her spare time. 'Once I became confident in pottery, I realised that my real interest lay in painting,' says Daphne. 'When I became involved with minerals in the mines at Tsumeb in Namibia, their incredible pure colours made such a deep impression on me that I simply had to try painting the lavender of the Amethyst, the jacaranda of the Tanzanite, the green of the Malachite and the crimson of the deadly Realgar. My geology background has definitely helped me a great deal in learning about colour appreciation. This had an influence on my liking for strong and bold colours. 'Initially I painted for the fun of it, but one day I realised that I had to take my painting seriously if I wanted to make my mark as an artist. Most of all I wanted to leave something behind for my children; not necessarily material things, but something from myself they could be proud of. This was the moment Daphne Kohn the painter left the Geological Museum to start her career as Daphne Kohn the artist.' The serious side of Daphne did however consider the future. She attended art classes by Peter Millard and Annatjie Oosthuizen while her artist friend Wessel Marais helped her as she went along. To be a successfully established artist requires hard work, discipline and dedication. 'To me a painting must be authentically pleasing. Nature is one big tapestry of colours and I love to transfer these colours onto canvas. The emotional experience of interpreting the subject matter in the colours of my choice is part of me - this is my art.' Daphne is a practical person who likes to believe that it is the present that matters most. 'Yesterday is gone,' she says. 'No one knows what tomorrow will bring. This is why we have to make the best of today.' She regards herself as an Impressionist, using complementing colours with the brushwork clearly visible, suggesting rapid dabbing, stroking and flecking movements, thus achieving spontaneity and freshness in her work. A typical Impressionist picture is painted in a very short time to record a fleeting impression, hence its name. Daphne has held solo exhibitions in towns and cities all over South Africa, from Messina to Cape Town, and has participated in group exhibitions with famous artists such as Wessel Marais, Adriaan Boshoff, Frans Claerhout and many others on several occasions. One of the highlights was the Femina 1999 in the State Theatre, Pretoria, with Mimi Coertse as special guest. Currently she resides in the picturesque town of Nylstroom, enclosed by the Waterberg Mountains, where she is still painting and exhibiting in her own gallery housed in the Mattaniah Restaurant. She is also involved in marketing artwork in Europe and the USA. +27 (0)14 717 3136 P.O. Box 3719 Modimolle Limpopo 0510 South Africa Other Categories:  Arts & Culture » Arts & Crafts Arts & Culture » Museums & Galleries Arts & Culture » Visual Arts |
