Janko De Beer

Janko de Beer is a South African artist based in Cape Town. He matriculated from Pro Arte Alphen Park, an acclaimed dance, art, music, drama, culinary art and enterprise management school in Pretoria. Janko has been creating art since 2005, but also obtained his law degree (LLB) in 2003 and practised as an Advocate of the High Court of South Africa for 12 years before turning full time artist in 2017.

Recently a second time finalist for a Global Art Award, De Beers work has featured in many solo and group exhibitions, and over the past couple of years he has established a substantial international following; his work has sold to private collectors in he United States, Turkey, England, Scotland, Belgium, Australia, Dubai and Monaco. His work has also been widely featured in the media, both in print and broadcast interviews.

His contributions to the Make a Difference Leadership Foundation (MAD) have been especially gratifying, Over the past two years, De Beers work has raised more than R1 million to provide talented South African scholars with exceptional educational and leadership development. At their 2016 auction in London, a single bronze horse bust, titled Mischief, fetched R500 000.

Janko spends as much time as possible outdoors, surfing in the ocean, hiking in the mountains or feeding his soul in the bush. He is inspired by found objects collected from nature. He collects rocks, wood, kelp and other natural materials which possess interesting shapes, textures and colours to use in his sculptures. He views these objects as Lego pieces or body parts, around which the sculptures are conceived.

The sculptures, with unique detail added using the found materials, are moulded and cast into limited editions of resin and bronze sculptures by using the lost wax casting technique. Janko does all of his own patinas, using both conventional and unconventional methods, which result in unexpectedly rich and unusual colours.

The sculptures are visually stimulating, bold and dramatic. They are a unique mastery of motion, form and texture influenced by the precepts of contemporary futurism in sculpting. They convey the history of the medium through strong individual characters, with a subtle touch of surrealism.

De Beers current series titled Subjectivity portrays the idea of how internal thoughts are shaped by perspectives, feelings, beliefs, and desires.

His heads and masks series titled Elders is a contemporary interpretation, based on the face and ceremonial painting techniques of the Dinka people of South Sudan.The sculptures represent the allegorical use of masks.

His feline series titled Umbabat is a bespoke interpretation of Africa and its big cats in motion. The sculptures represent the animals speed, agility and movement through time and space.

The horse themed series titled Equus is based on the mythical relationship between humans and horses. Janko focuses on Myth, Legend, Conflict and Pleasure encapsulating the role that horses have played in the evolution of civilisation.