Adriaan de Villiers, born in 1984, lives and works in Capetown, South Africa. He is artist-in-residence at the Thami Mnyele Foundation from February till the end of April 2013. Adriaan de Villiers was selected by Ann Demeester (De Appel Arts Centre), Fons Welters (Galerie Fons Welters) and Jelle Bouwhuis (SMBA).
After graduating in Fine Arts in 2007 at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa, Adriaan participated in divers exhibitions. He won the prize for Best Sculpture in the Sanlam Vuleka Art Competition in 2008. In 2011 Adriaan took part in the exhibition "Genius without talent" at De Appel Arts Centre in Amsterdam. In 2012 he was invited to work as an artist-in-residence at the Arts Centre Dordtyardt in Dordrecht. In the same year a series of his sculptures were exhibited by Galerie Sanaa at Rai Amsterdam.
"The towers I draw appear infinitely tall. The appearance is inspired by the story of the tower of Babel in the book of Genesis. I combine male and female features in my tower designs. The male aspects are illustrated in the phallic shape of the towers and the aggressive drawing technique. Female qualities are visible in my use of pastel colors and the delicate appearance of the towers and their decoration.
Irrationality is emphasized in my tower designs by using unnecessary decoration and bright colors that are inspired by indigenous South African flowers. Hundertwasser, Gaudi, Japanese prints, outsider art, religious architecture and Gustav Klimt are a few of my influences." "My latest sculptures are inspired by a Milkwood tree."