Cecilia Maartens was born in 1956 in Ermelo, South Africa, and has been living in Bloemfontein since 1988. She joins Mid-Morning Magic's Yolanda Maartens in the OFM Art Beat to talk about what inspires her art and the meaning of the piece currently on display as part of the group exhibition at the Jan Rupert Art Centre.

Cecilia is part of the Free State Art Collective and you can read more about her here: FSAC

You can find her works by visiting free_state_art_collective on Instagram as well as her personal page cecilia_maartens_fine_art 

During 2012 - 2015 the centre hosted the exhibition Art of the Space Age featuring the works of international artists Giacomo Balla, Victor Vasarely, Auguste Herbin, and Yaacov Agam, among others, from the Huberte Goote Collection. Works featured were abstract, bright, colourful, and energetic; through optical illusions and kinetic movement, visitors were invited to question their eyes and doubt their perception.

IN-MOTION: Art of the Space Age a reworked exhibition featuring a bigger selection of these works opened end 2021 in Stellenbosch. With this, the second Open Call of the Rupert Museum was launched – inviting all creatives from any platform to respond to these iconic and ground-breaking inventions created in the eye of the 1960s popular futuristic trends.

As a result, over 200 entries were received with the judging panel reaching a conclusion of 39 successful applicants whose responsive artworks are now the IN-RESPONSE exhibition. In summary, the pieces you are about to encounter provide a contemporary take and material-based approach to the icons that served as its inspiration. The artists sought symbolic meaning while exploring the possibilities of their chosen subject, material and execution. Mediums include painting, printmaking, ceramics, textiles and digital displays with various materials from recycled plastic, wood and steel to the more traditional.

Jan Rupert Art Centre, Graaff-Reinet

On the external wall of the centre and greeting you streetside, is the mural and a proud collaborative effort with members of the community. The Ilukuluku Collective now features their permanent mural as landmark to the Jan Rupert Centre – the result of an outreach workshop with the Imibala Trust and 20 learners from the Isibane Primary School who worked to conceptualise and realise the designs.

Featured artists:
Amita Makan, Asha Zero, Bonolo Chepape, Cecil Cameron, Cecilia Maartens,
Collin Cole & Dina Kroon, Cornelia Wessels, Dal Botha, Diana Vandeyar, Dylan McGarry & Teyana Neufeld, Erna Ziegelmeier, Eve de Jong, Gaelen Pinnock, Heather Moore, Hendrien Horn, Herman Pretorius, Ilze-Mari Maartens, Jacky Lloyd, John Bauer, John Lizamore, Kiveshan Thumbiran, Louw van Zyl, Maré van Noordwyk, Monique Day-Wilde, Monique Etsebeth, Nicholas Hales, Nicki Friedlein, Oliver Mayhew, Paul Birchall, Pedro Malada, Primrose Charmz, Pyda Nyariri, Rika Haasbroek, Sheila Walwyn, Tony Pietersen, Torick Hatha, Yolandi Schreuder and Ilukuluku Collective.

This exhibition is on until the 21st of May 2023 at the Jan Rupert Art Centre in Graaff-Reinet. 

Enquiries: +27 (0) 49 892 6107