Ulrich Konrad Heinrich Valentin Schwanecke

1932 – Halberstadt, Germany

2006 – died in a motor accident, Pretoria, South Africa

Worked in watercolor, oil and mixed media, graphic works, pottery; subject matter: landscapes, flowers, seascapes, abstract forms; style : semi – abstract

He has been interested in paintings since early childhood but did not contemplate it as a career. He crossed the border to West Germany in 1951.

Immigrated 1952 to South Africa as a mining recruit. First private art lessons with Mrs Raath in Welkom, 1958. Took evening classes with Cecil Skotnes, Jan Buys, George Boys and Bill Ainslie at the Witwatersrand Technical College 1961 & 1962 and studied Fine Art via UNISA 1965 – 1969 and obtained a bachelor degree. During his annual leaves he travelled extensively on foot and on his motorcycle. Visited 1960 Central & West Africa. He visited Namibia 1962 with Jan Buys and started to paint Namibian landscapes. He became a fulltime artist in 1962, but returned to an employment in the mining industry 1964.

From 1977- 1979 he served as the chairman of the Watercolor Society of South Africa

Due to the limited formats of watercolor paper, Schwanecke has resorted to multiple panels for his panoramic views. The image was spread over several sheets into diptychs, triptychs and sometimes as many as seven panels. 1981 he produced “ Edge of the Namib “ which has been reproduced by Howard Swan, Johannesburg, four separate units with a dimension of 60 x 1560 mm.

1981 he retired from the research sector of the department of mines to become a full-time artist.

Solo – Exhibitions:

Participated in many group exhibitions in South Africa, UK, USA and Germany. Joint exhibitions in South Africa with Cynthia Ball, Diedie Marais Nicholas Garwood, Dale Elliot, Wendy Malan and Gordon Vorster. First solo exhibition in South Africa 1959 in Welkom.

1963      Maseru, Lesotho

1979      Art Association Windhoek

1983      Loft Gallery, Windhoek

1985      Art Association Windhoek

1987      Art Association Windhoek

1989      Art Association Windhoek

1994      Die Muschel, Swakopmund

1995      Die kleine Galerie, Windhoek

1999      Art Association Windhoek

1999      Art Association Swakopmund

2000      Atelier Kendzia, Windhoek

2000      Karen Mc Kerron Art Gallery, Johannesburg

2002      Die Muschel, Swakopmund

2003      Atelier Kendzia, Windhoek

2009      Art Association Swakopmund – Commemorative Exhibition

Public Collections.

Namibia               Art association Heritage Trust, Windhoek, National Art Gallery of Namibia

South Africa       Pretoria Art Museum, William Humphreys Gallery, Kimberley, Ann Byrant Gallery, East London, Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg ,University of South Africa, William Annandale Art gallery, Lichtenburg, Sandton Municipal Collection, Potchefstroom University Collection, Barlow Rand, Total SA and Sasol

Publications:

1969      The Birds from the North

1968      Cadaver Palaver

1968      Afterlaughter

1989      Lessons in Ornithology

1991      Tsammas

1993      Green Peace/ Grüntöne

1994      There are places so still, limited edition of 200

1994      Imagine you can fly

1999      African Pictures

Awards:

1988      Life Membership of the Watercolor Society of South Africa