Marietjie Koekemoer Swanepoel

The artworks made by Marietjie Koekemoer Swanepoel are untainted by any influence. She never had any form of art tuition, resulting in her art being completely original and a true reflection of her unique creativity. Marietjie is my sister and we grew up in the Great Karoo on a farm. Since a young age she was different form the rest of us: very brave in her creations that found a place in her bedroom. An orange painted old bath became a couch; decorative bricks (typical of the 70’s used for the swimming pool wall) became pedestals. Wooden Curtain rods were used to drape elaborate fabrics as a headboard. When our farmhouse got an upgrade in the seventies, Marietjie’s wallpaper were the boldest of all, and yes, it was orange. In her adult years Marietjie lived her creativity in her personality, cuisine, décor and dress code.  Never one to sit still, she would always be very bold when it comes to being creative. Without hesitation, sacred family furniture would suddenly become a main attraction in a teal, gold or pink appearance that would give the room a completely new energy. During lockdown, I brought some art materials along for a weekend away with my sisters. Marietjie was keen to start and the next moment we had an artwork; bold and vibrant colours, impasto and charming. Encouraged by what she created, Marietjie never stopped. She has found her new passion and talent. She found a new life without any limits.
‘Marietjie Jooste Koekemoer Swanepoel……..om ‘n kort beskrywing van haar te doen is moeilik, maar ook baie maklik. Jy sit haar nie in ‘n boksie of ‘n paragraaf nie, sy klim daaruit….’n Baie begaafde kreatiewe mens, wat grensloos bang is daarvoor om te stagneer. Sy heg waarde aan dit wat oud en uit die verlede is, maar daar is altyd ‘n kinkel in. Wat verby is, is ons ouma’s s’n. Sy waardeer en ag en koester dit, maar ons moet vernuwe. Soos in haar kos en kuns. Altyd iets nuuts, iets onvoorspelbaars, iets verassends, iets baie uniek en pragtig’.  Annatjie Reynolds, suster. ‘My suster Marietjie het, vanaf ek kan onthou, reeds ‘n kreatiewe streep weg. Sy is 10 jaar ouer as ek en ek kan goed onthou hoe my pa vir haar ‘n ou bad met voete in die lengte deurgesny het, oranje geverf het en in haar slaapkamer as bank staangemaak het.  Ook is gemaakte stene vir ‘n swembadmuur, baie ‘avante garde’ in die tyd, geverf en in haar kamer as dekor gebruik. ‘ Jeannerie Jooste, suster.ONGEKUNSTELD is an Afrikaans word that refers to something as honest, without pretention, uninfluenced, raw, untainted and unique. Add to that: brave, courageous and unrestricted. That describes the art of Marietjie.

ONGEKUNSTELD

An Art exhibition by Marietjie Koekemoer Swanepoel opens on Saturday 12 March 2022 at 16h00 – 18h00 and will be opened by Louis Jansen van Vuuren. The exhibition concludes 25 April 2022. Muratie Wine Estate Stellenbosch.