On Thursday, 25 July, Ade Kipades joined Bush Radio to discuss his current exhibition and his artistic journey.
The Exhibition: Massacre of the Paint Tubes
Kipades has an exhibition entitled Massacre of the Paint Tubes running until August 10 at RK Contemporary gallery in Cape Town.
“The body of work is about how I go into figuration,” said Kipades. “You’ll see me coming into my own, new figurative style. But all along the subject is what is driving the passion to paint.”
Kipades explained that this exhibition is a response to his feelings surrounding the current war in Gaza. He was deeply concerned about what bombs were doing to children, and hopes that when people come to see his exhibition, they do so through the context of these tragedies.
”The subject matter has a lot to do with how we deal with and analyze resistance,” said Kipades.
On the exhibition’s website, Kipades states, “This exhibition, 'Massacre of the Paint Tubes,' is not just about the horror and tragedy of recent events but is also a testament to the resilience and transformative power of art. Through this journey, I hope to engage viewers in a conversation that transcends the immediate and delves into the universal human experience."
Kipades will be at RK Contemporary on August 1 at 17:30 to discuss his works and cultivate meaningful conversation and interpretations surrounding his art.
Abe’s Journey To Painting
During the interview, Ade said he always loved to draw, and learned from comic books. In high school, he did wood work. In university, he studied graphic design.
Kipades said that he regrettably did military training, though he was a conscientious objector. During his time in the military service, he made sure to work in a position where he would not hold a weapon.
“That was always something in my background—to resist acts of war…” said Kipades. “At the time, I was against what was happening during Apartheid and I refused to hold a weapon.”
After his service, he freelanced as a graphic design illustrator. However, Kipades didn’t agree with the lifestyle choices the graphic design industry was forcing him to make, so he went into ceramics and immigrated to Italy. During these years, he would paint in his spare time and take painting courses. Kipades continued practicing ceramics for 19 years, but had to stop for health reasons.
Kipades moved back to South Africa in 2016 and started pursuing painting. In 2018, Kipades displayed his first solo exhibition as an abstract painter.
“Human rights against oppression of minorities—that has always been the subject in my work,” said Kipades.
However, the artist explained that as time went on, he found that the subject around his work became less, and the abstraction became more, which worried him. To help find his voice and messaging through painting, Kipades started looking up to Philip Guston for inspiration. Guston’s art spoke poignantly about certain issues in a relatable and numerous way, without being too political, and Kipades began to emulate some of Guston’s story-telling techniques.
Follow Ade Kipades on Instagram @kipades
About Ade Kipades
Ade Kipades holds a National Diploma in Graphic Design. He is a skilled artist with a diverse range of talents that he has expressed for the past thirty years. Throughout this time, Ade has been showcased in exhibitions and art fairs both at home and abroad. His artworks have captivated audiences and earned a place in esteemed private and corporate collections, where they continue to gain in value while inspiring art enthusiasts.
(Biography from Ade Kipades)
Presentor: Mkuseli Khusi Veto
Producer: Nikoletta Anagnostou
Written by Nikoletta Anagnostou
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