GALLERY: Inspired by his surroundings

From a tender age, Tiaan van Tonder used art to tell stories around him, including recording the history of the world.

This is according to Van Tonder, a former farm boy, waiter and barman.

Now, he is the owner of the popular Afro Pop Art Studio on Melville’s 4th Avenue, where he is making a mark in the art industry.

Van Tonder said most of his work is sold in the USA, Australia and Europe.

He added, “At best I paint and design for the aesthetic value more so than to make any kind of statement. Art is everything to me – even though my parents never took me serious. They always asked when I was going to get a proper job because they believed my art work was just a hobby.”

Also a TV and film designer, Van Tonder said he paints what is part of his surroundings and visualises things that have significance to him at the time.

In his studio, any painting design can be found and he calls the studio his heaven.

The gallery was opened last year.

“Establishing an art studio is something I always wanted,” said the North-West born.

For years, Van Tonder spent his time in Israel and Zanzibar – after running away from school.

“I dropped out from an art school in North West because I did not want to copy other people’s work or be taught. I loved following my inborn talent. I relocated to Israel where I had more freedom to work on my art unlike in South Africa, where art was discriminated against. In Israel, I opened a bar. I came home after 1994 because things became better for us art people,” he said.

He said most of his clients are the Braamfontein art students and international people.

Van Tonder has also been in the entertainment industry for 17 years, designing movies.

“I have designed many movies here at home and abroad,” he said.

Some of the movies he mentioned are the 2003 HIV/Aids movie called Yesterday, starring by Leleti Khumalo of the Sarafina fame.

“Other movies I have designed, include Three Wolves and Friends’ Corner,” Van Tonder concluded.