ERIKA HIBBERT

Lithographs (1999 / 2000)

Almost Alone 1999 four colour lithograph 56 x 76 cm Edition 30	Binding 2000 six colour lithograph 56 x 76 cm Edition 30
The Offering 1994 two colour lithograph 56 x 76 cm Edition 20

"7 Deadly Sins" By Erika Hibbert, 2003.

Anger	Apathy	Envy
Gluttony	Greed	Lust
Series of 7 prints pinted in black with a few colour runs Chine colle, embossing and hand colouring were used 38 x 35.5 cm Edition 30	Pride

Artists Statement:

The writings of Thomas Aquinas (1224-1274) form the background for this series. Known as the Angelic Doctor, Aquinas was an Aristotlist, famous for his investigations into 'the vices and virtues of life'. As a model for self-examination, Aquinas's ideas around shared human characteristics developed into the renowned Catholic principle of 7 deadly sins.

I have explored these common characteristics of the human condition through an analysis of their presence in my own make-up. The exercise began as an exploration of the commonality of the human condition. My work may generally be recognized as strongly individualistic and referring most often to intimate, singular and particular experiences of myself but this work was developed during a period of looking beyond the idiosyncratic. Although the concept of 'sin' was not comfortable for me, I explored this idea during a period of intense religious probing.

There are 7 lithographs each representing one of the 7 deadly sins as they are manifest in my character:

Gluttony - The clenched hand and a wine glass refers to crude physical greed and excess. The fist indicates frustration and self-loathing.

Apathy - The Passion Flower refers to Christianity. Also called 'spiritual sloth' in some translations of Aquinas, the artist recognizes this sin in herself disguised as disdain and cynicism - and so the hand signals 'hate' in sign language.

Anger - This characteristic in the artist is identified with violence. The knife forced into flesh refers to self-mutilation - anger experienced as self-destruction.

Pride - The breast-feeding child alludes to basic, instinctual pride in one's children. I experienced this with dismay as the indication is that the children are of oneself or belong to oneself, and this claiming of another person through the sin of pride is the ultimate denial of their own individuality and separateness.

Lust - The hand raised in shock as a lizard bites its tip. Borrowed from Caravaggio, this use of the lizard as a sign for sexual passion recurs in this work. The inference is that the sin of lust may be hazardous and painful, but nevertheless results in an exquisite serpentine gesture as the hand arches and pulls away.

Greed - Stupid worldly greed is a green purse and a hand signaling 'love' implicates me in this desire to surround myself with possessions and trappings. I, like Aquinas, attribute this sin to the fear of death.

Envy - The tired hand, heavy with want, contains the envious eye that desires that which others have. The mysterious sin with no benefit in it. The origin of discontent.

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CURRICULUM VITAE: ERIKA HIBBERT

Erika Hibbert EDUCATION

1989 BA (Fine Art) University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Distinction in Painting and Drawing, University Merit Award for Painting.)

1990 Post graduate Higher Diploma in Education, University of theWitwatersrand, Jhb

RESIDENCIES/ WORK EXPERIENCE

2003 Awarded Fellowship of the Ampersand Foundation and resident fellow in New York City for 2 months. (May and June)

2002 Artist in Residence at Caversham Press and Studio, Howick Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa (August September)

2000-2003 Part time Lecturer in Drawing, Fine Art, Witwatersrand Technikon Part time drawing teacher, Artists Proof Studio, Newtown, Jhb

1989-2003 Freelance book illustrator for various publishing houses including Raven Press, Macmillan, Maskew-Miller-Longman, Heinemann, GIED

1998 Occasional Drawing workshops, Funda Community College, Soweto, Johannesburg

1997 Birth of second child Tiva Designed various CD covers & posters

1996 Birth of first child Lorha Ad Hoc member of Market Theatre Galleries Consultative Committee

1995 Executive member. Art Educators Association (since 1992) Consultative committee member Market Theatre Galleries

1993 -1994 Art Educators Association. Administrator (Part time) and Co-ordinator of art-making workshops

1994 Member of the Visual Arts Consultative Committee Arts Alive Festival, Jhb. Mural Artist - Arts Alive Festival, Jhb 1993 Resident Artist, Daljosofat Arts Foundation, Paarl. Western Cape

1992 Member of Arts For All campaign committee for the organization and launch of the National Arts Coalition Co-ordinator of Mural Workshop, Grahamstown Festival Coordinator and Facilitator of the Community Mural, Orlando Children's Home, Orlando, Soweto

19911992 Pelmama Academy, Dobsonville, Soweto. Painting, Sculpture, Drawing and Art History
Joubert Park College. Inner city, Johannesburg.

1994-1995 Funda Community College. Diepkloof Soweto. Co-ordinator and teacher of part-time adult education art course. Art History teacher full time art course.
After school art course for children, Dobsonville, Soweto

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2002 Pansky Dum Art Gallery, Prague, Czech Republic (May/June)
Art on Paper Gallery, Jhb (March)

2000 Show at Home, Jhb
Bang-the-Gallery, Cape Town

1999 Open Window Gallery, Pretoria

1994 Thompson Gallery, Jhb

1993 SAAA, Cape Town

1995 Market Theatre Galleries, Jhb

SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2003 Brett Kebble Art Awards, Cape Town

2003 Spaza Gallery, Troyeville, Jhb

2002 Open Window Gallery, Pretoria

2001 Art on Paper Gallery, Melville, Jhb