André Rose

I am a public health scientist and photographer. My art practice interrogates inequality in society, explores how urban spaces are utilised, and affect and influence peoples’ lives. My interest and imagination are captured by the underbelly of society and its citizens at the fringe. The city is a metaphorical stage in which the life-narrative of the thespians unfold and my photographs screen grabs moments from these enactments to reflect on the performance between actors and their space. I explore the interactive dimensions of this stage and seek to understand and make meaning of how the thread of our humanity is woven into the spaces we move and live in. My imagery disrupts the sublime narrative of photography and seeks to capture how the light etches the marks of society onto the photograph. Images are sometimes layered upon each other to allow the viewer to tease away at the image and explore the surreal layers. I allow the images to narrate public health challenges by inviting the viewer into a paradoxically uncomfortable serene space. I take photos because I am a storyteller. I currently live and work in Kimberley in South Africa.

I am a medical doctor by training with a specialisation in public health. I completed a PhD at the University of the Free State. My art practice continues to be developed under the tutalage of Prof Janine Allen.

2021: Sasol New Signatures Finalists, Pretoria
2021: Northern Cape Artists’ Exhibition, William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley (Group)
2021: Translating Home, Latitudes (Online, Group)
2021: Budapest Diaries, Barcelona (Online, Group)
2020: Lockdown: A viral art experiment, Free State Art Collective (Online, Group)
2020: Myopia, William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley (Online, Group)
2019: Sasol New Signatures Finalist, Pretoria
2019: Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg (Group)
2018: Art Bank South Africa, Bloemfontein
2018: New Breed Art Competition, Bloemfontein
2018: Sasol New Signatures Finalist, Pretoria
2018: Thami Mnyele Finalist, Ekuruleni
2018: New Breed Winners’ Group Exhibition, Bloemfontein
2017: New Breed Art Competition (runner up), Bloemfontein