Christine Lamberth

Artist’s Philosophy

Christine’s primary interest in wildlife had its origins in the contemplation of nature. However, her work has now moved into a more subjective emotional observation of the dire straits in which the fauna of the world has remorse-lessly been plunged. Through the interrogation of this subject it is her intention to redirect the gaze of the viewer from the romantic concept of an African landscape to a current worldview where the imminent danger of a disap-pearing species becomes the focus.

The use of monochrome imagery lends a dramatic slant to the subject highlighting the form. The choice of a closely cropped image where the viewer will be drawn into a direct gaze of an animal is a deliberate choice. The image must confront and engage. Whether the gaze is from a minuscule mammal or bird to the sinuous characteristics of a big cat or the power of one of the continent’s behemoths the intention is to transport the viewer from a position of disinterested apathy to one of actionable engagement.

At present Christine is interrogating the notion of the desire of man to turn everything he sees into a commodity.
Whether that commodity is a trinket to hang around his neck, put on his coffee table, stuff it and hang it on his wall or turn it into a life enhancing elixir he is slowly but surely destroying the natural world in that quest.

Personal and Professional Ambitions

As a result of her exposure to the wilderness of Africa, a place she believes is a sanctuary for the soul, Christine has become increasingly involved in conservation issues. This has heavily influenced her art as she is now passionate about showcasing the natural world in its most beautiful guises. The aim is for those who come into contact with her work to share her feeling that it is imperative that we halt those people who are denuding the world of its natural resources and heritage.

Major Influences

Artistically, many photographers have influenced Christine in the development of her work including Annie Leibovitz, whose work raises thought-provoking issues, while Henri Cartier Bresson, the father of street photography, has enabled her to see things very differently. Vincent Munier, a Wildlife Photographer’s work has heavily influenced Christine’s concept of composition. The individual insights of artists such as Dali, Gaudi, Da Vinci, William Kentridge, Diane Victor, Nick Brandt and Gregory Colbert among many others have encouraged her to seek her own form of excellence.

With regards to conservation, Christine is heavily influenced by the likes of Jane Goodall, Diane Fossey, David Attenborough and Ofir Drori who have inspired her to use her own talents to promote the preservation of the world for all.

Previous Experience and Achievements

• Curator of a number of successful art galleries including in Muldersdrift on the Crocodile Ramble, the Johannes Stegmann Theatre in Secunda and an exhibition sponsored by Sasol at Gracelands in Secunda
• Partner in a business that produced craft products and had a network of 68 agents countrywide who taught crafts. Christine designed craft kits and in turn trained the agents to teach others. The business expanded into producing ceramics and manufacturing fabric and craft paints.
• Christine was one of the pioneers who introduced the art of mosaic in South Africa for the everyday person.
  She manufactured her own mosaic tiles and taught the art of mosaic to adults through The Garden and Home Academy
  Ran a successful art studio from her own home teaching both adults and children to paint and draw
• Presented several drawing courses using the Right Brain Method through The Garden and Home Academy where people could learn to draw in just five days
• Christine’s drawings have been sold to people from all over the world, including Switzerland, UK US, South Africa, Germany, Hong Kong and Namibia and one piece of her work hangs in the Polokwane Art Museum

Education and Training

• Bachelor of Visual Arts (hons) – (2004), UNISA

Techniques Used

• Graphic skills on various substrates to produce work that can be seen as realistic without being super-realistic
• A specialist in wildlife as a subject, Christine takes her own photographs to use as reference for her artwork
• Producing fine art photographs that have the ability to transport the viewer to the same instant in which the shot was taken

Awards

• 2014 Highly Commended David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year
• 2015 Highly Commended David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year
• 2015 Golden Turtle 9 – Winner Graphics
• 2015 Golden Turtle 9 – Runner up Graphics
• 2015 Golden Turtle 9 – 3rd Graphics

Exhibitions

• 1998-2003 Quarterly group exhibitions held at The Johannes Stegmann Theatre, Secunda, South Africa
• 2001 Sasol Secunda Art Exhibition, Gracelands Secunda, South Africa
• 2002 Earth Summit – World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa.
• 2004 Group Exhibition Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
• 2005 Group Exhibition, Polokwane Art Museum, Polokwane, South Africa
  Group Exhibition, Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  Group Exhibition, KZNSA, Durban, South Africa
• 2014 Group Exhibition, London Mall Galleries, London, UK – David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year
• 2015 Group Exhibition, Moscow Museum, Moscow Russia, Golden Turtle 9 Art Exhibition
  Group Exhibition, St Petersburg, Russia, Golden Turtle 9 Art Exhibition
  Group Exhibition, London Mall Galleries, London, UK – David Shepherd Wildlife Artist of the Year
  Robert Badenhorst Art Gallery, Clarens, South Africa.
• 2016 Solo Exhibition, Imbizo Art Gallery, Ballito, South Africa
  Decorex 2016 Johannesburg – Solo Exhibitor
  Cites CoP17 Conference, Sandton, South Africa
  Group Exhibition – Kuns Unlike, Pretoria, South Africa
• 2017 Art in the Park, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
  Group Exhibition, Imbizo Gallery Hoedspruit.
  Decorex 2017, Johannesburg
  Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton, kwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
  Group Exhibition, Kuns Uniek, Pretoria, South Africa.
• 2018 Kayamoja Exhibition Windhoek, Namibia
  Kayamoja Exhibition Swakopmund, Nambia

Galleries

Robert Badenhorst Gallery, Clarens, South Africa.
David Shepherd Gallery, Guildford, UK.
Art Beat Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Zulu Lulu, Howick, South Africa
Mpho Art Gallery, Rosebank, Johannesburg
Marzé Botha Art Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Imbizo Gallery, Hoedspruit, South Africa
Artists Gallery, Ramsgate, South Africa

Art Competition Judge

Golden Turtle Art Festival 17, Moscow, Russia.

Charity Donations

• 2015 David Shepherd Wildlife Art Foundation UK
• 2016 David Shepherd Wildlife Art Foundation UK
• 2017 Borana Art Conservancy, London, UK
  Kayamoja Trust, Windhoek, Namibia
  David Shepherd Wildlife Art Foundation UK