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Robbie Leggat Exhibition ...

Friday, 4 November - Sunday, 6 November
At Gilfillan Scott-Berning Gallery, 14 Duncombe Road, Forest Town, Johannesburg
Enquiries 011 486 0967

Internationally renowned artist, Robbie Leggat, established a name for himself as the top selling South African artist at Christie's auction sales in London in the 1990s where his bronze hippo water feature fetched £24, 000. Based in the Eastern Cape, Leggat is known for his sculptural depictions of South African fauna.

Leggat's work is distinguished by his constant and challenging use of material in new and innovative ways. Leggat's recent sculptures of birds have incorporated gemstones and silver insets into the surface of the bronze, so his green spotted wood dove has green tourmalines set in place of the iridescent green patches on the wings and red garnet eyes. This experimentation and incorporation of semi-precious stones was followed by the quest to recreate water using resin to capture its translucent quality to magnify the aquatic life below its surface in detail. This resulted in captivating sculptures of shore birds feeding in shallow water alongside crustaceans of various species and his stunning rendition of an African fish eagle swooping in over the water's surface with its talon outstretched and grasping a carp. Leggat successfully challenges himself with his use of material to portray the essence of his subject matter so to capture the fluid movement of a moment in bronze.

A highlight of his forthcoming exhibition will be his recently completed meerkat composition depicting each individual character of the community in a typical yet unique stance. This sculpture typifies Leggat's fascination with all fauna and not only the headline grabbing big five. In addition, the exhibition will feature his recently completed sculptures of a heron and the little jacana. The sculptures allow the viewer an intimate proximity to these delicate creatures emphasizing their vulnerability, yet their resilience, in their natural environments. This detail is truly rendered as Leggat works closely from observation combined with his keen knowledge of the species he depicts, but also because he is privileged to have access to museum skin collections to confirm his interpretations in detail.

Uniquely, at the exhibition opening, guests will witness the alchemic moment when searing hot molten bronze magma is poured into fired ceramic moulds to recreate in bronze Leggat's creative visions and so to illustrate but one step in the complex and intriguing process of producing a completed bronze sculpture.

For further information contact:
Gillian Scott-Berning
Tel/fax: 031 2078247
Email: Gillian.gsb@mweb.co.za


For more information of the bronzing process, click here