Equestria’s own stonemason
A stonemason in Equestria talks about this unique art form and why it is not well-known in South Africa.
A man from Equestria is passionate about bringing the art of stone masonry to South Africa. Chris Coetzee (45) has studied the art of stone masonry in Israel, Taiwan and Australia. He said it is a shame South Africa has no institution that teaches this form of art.
“I studied art at Tshwane University of Technology and after my first year of study, decided to take a hiatus and travelled abroad. In India I discovered stone masonry and have never looked back. It is a very spiritual art form,” Coetzee said.
He is currently working with most kinds of material, including granite, which he buys in the form of boulders. “I am one of only a handful of people in South Africa who does stone masonry, which is tragic, since I have seen very talented carvers just stop creating amazing works of art because they cannot make money from it. Many art galleries see stone masonry as traditional carving and they do not exhibit,” he said.
“Another interesting aspect is the fact that quantum physics and quantum mechanics play a big role in creating especially big pieces. In South Africa, this connection between physics and art has not really been explored yet. More emphasis is placed on bronze sculpting, which is taught at most universities and art colleges.”
Coetzee was born in Pretoria and currently lives here. He has been involved with art and stone masonry for many years. Though he admits professionally he has made much more money internationally than in South Africa, he believes there is a gap in especially public art.
“In Israel, people work only with chisels, but they do it for meditational and therapeutic reasons. Though I work with both chisels and power tools, to me this art form brings one closer to nature.”
Some of Coetzee’s larger sculptures take him roughly three to eight months to complete and though he charges between R5 000 and R100 000 per piece, he said in countries like Australia, large art pieces similar to his own, may sell for roughly $50 000 (more than R500 000).
Some of Coetzee’s work is currently on display at the Garden Root Nursery in Equestria. Visit www.graniton.wozaonline.co.za for more information.
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