It is not every day that a medical doctor and public health medicine specialist not only creates art in his spare time, but also wins a Runner-Up Prize in a prestigious competition such as the Phatshoane Henney New Breed Art Competition.
In the case of André Rose, who currently serves as the President of the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA), this is a remarkable reality. He received the Runner-Up Award in the 2017 New Breed competition as well as R20,000 in prize money for his tremendously atmospheric digital prints that talk to important societal issues in our country relating to unemployment, marginalized communities, and the fight for survival and harsh realities of the Zama Zamas
“My art is an extension of my voice as a public health advocate. My work focuses on resonating the voice of the marginalised so that it can highlight their plight. In my art I aim to reflect the voice of the marginalised and not just interpret their stories,” he remarks.
While he also paints, he finds that photography appeals to him because of the way it captures the mood of a place and person. “I photograph incessantly, because I find that amalgamation of light, shape and mood creates an art piece that forces the viewer to engage with the message. It is also a medium that is easily accessible to everyone, creating an essential point of connection which allows the viewer to participate in creating an interpretation of my work. People sometimes feel intimidated by other art forms such as painting or sculptures, but photography has an underpinning commonality that gives people a hook to hang their opinion on.”
He remarks that achieving second place in the New Breed Art Competition has already opened doors for him as an artist. Together with the four other winners of last year’s competition, Rose will participate in the Winners Group Exhibition at Gallery on Leviseur in July as part of the ‘vrynge’ at the Vrystaat Arts Festival. “While it is a daunting prospect, it is a great opportunity to showcase a broader range of my work. Following my achievements in the New Breed Art Competition, my work was also included in the National Art Bank inaugural exhibition at Oliewenhuis Art Museum, which was a tremendous honour for me.”
Click here to view Rose's profile and see more of his work.