Juanita Oosthuizen

A chance encounter many years ago in the Tate Modern in London triggered my current choice of artistic medium. That day, I came across a tiny artwork in a vast, empty hall with a tiny figure as subject. It immediately appealed to my love of delicate minimalism.


Today, I am inspired to come up with creative ways to incorporate miniature figurines into works of art – placing them in a carefully planned scenario fashioned from board and paper. This is mounted in a box frame to create a 3D environment. I work mostly in black, white and grey, sometimes introducing a smattering of colour to create an element of surprise. When I compose a piece, I find myself instinctively drawn to depict something surreal, wistful, pensive and sometimes playful.

My work varies from playful to serious and emotional, with the subject matter telling a story through the body language or interaction of the figurines. I create a space for the spectator to make his or her own interpretation.
I find inspiration everywhere – in nature, in daily life, in the city, in books on illustration, photography and design.