South African artist Tienie Pritchard, one of the most prominent South African sculptors, internationally renowned for his bronze monumental public commissions.
Ever since Tienie had discovered clay as his preferred medium, it was his greatest challenge to sculpt the nude human form. Throughout his career, the nude was his passion and the basis of his creative motivation.
To Tienie Pritchard the nude is not only a subject of art, but in fact a separate form of art. The human body is rich in associations and when it is turned into art, it can be expressive of a wide range of concepts. He is convinced that he can capture the human form in three dimensions only by means of the classical realistic style.
To him sculpture is all about form. He studied anatomy by assembling the human skeleton and by familiarizing himself with every muscle in the human body.
The challenge to portray man beyond his physical reality.
With his very first public commission in 1972, he followed his heart and sculpted a composition of nude figures representing the human life cycle for the Department of Internal Affairs in Pretoria. Nude sculpture sponsored by the government was unheard of and unacceptable for the conservative section of the South African public during those years. Nudes were deemed detrimental for public morals and inappropriate for public display. This protest catapulted Tienie Pritchard on a controversial but very successful sculpting career.
The challenge to portray man beyond his physical reality initiated Tienie’s interest in ancient cultures and civilizations and inevitably the mythologies of these cultures. His later nudes portray the nude within a cultural milieu and shows how the mind functions within a given cultural background. Tienie honours and illustrates the human imagination.
Primarily known as a sculptor of the nude, Tienie sculpts both male and female. However, he prefers the female form, which is better suited to his smooth polished finishes and subtle modelling technique. Tienie regards the classical Greek sculptors as the greatest masters of realistic sculpture, unsurpassed even in modern times. He is intrigued by the ancient female role of goddess, priestess or sorceress – a phenomenon that vanished in modern times. Other favourite themes are heroic and controversial historical figures (Ndlovunkulu (Shaka), Jeanne D’Arc, Cleopatra, Salome), regality (Shaka, The Royal Hunt, Cleopatra) and the vulnerability of man (Vulnerable, Forsaken, The Five Foolish Virgins, The Marriage Market, Back to the Womb, Search for Wisdom, Despair).
Tienie Pritchard models his sculptures in clay and cast them in plaster of Paris. The plaster cast is worked further to obtain the desired surface for his polished bronze sculptures. Limited editions (not more than 15) are then being cast in bronze.
Tienie always use live models, because he believes that working from live models gives soul to a sculpture. Tienie Pritchard’s bronze art hails the human spirit.
George Harrison – 1988
Dimensions 4 x life size (9 m high)
The nine meter high George Harrison in Settler’s Park, Eastgate, Johannesburg is one of the biggest and best-known bronze monuments in the country.
This monumental sculpture was commissioned by the Management Committee of the Johannesburg City Council to commemorate the hundredth birthday of the city. It is certainly one of the largest sculptures in South Africa and can be seen next to the highway at Settlers Park, Eastgate.
The Water Nymphs – 1981
Dimensions: 6 m high (figures 1.5 life size)
This work was commissioned by the Executive Committee of the Transvaal Provincial Administration for the Board of Public Resorts. The sculpture was erected on the site of the original warm springs source at the Forever Resort in Bela Bela.
The sculpture symbolises the healing power of the warm mineral springs by means of a water nymph granting the healing water out of oyster shells and two swimming nymphs, demonstrating the energy and vitality received from the healing water.
The War Panels at Delville Wood,
France – 1984
Dimensions: 3 m x 10 m
Depicting South Africa’s participation in World War II, in the commemorative museum at Dellville Wood in France, measures an imposing three meters high by ten meters long.
His work is represented in private and public collections all over the world. His subject is the human figure, portrayed nude or semi-nude and, although he also sculpts animals, he prefers to incorporate them into his compositions with human figures.
Tienie was one of four sculptors commissioned by the National Party Government to sculpt wall panels in relief for the Commemorative War Museum at Delvillewood, France. Tienie’s panel was the largest and had to depict South Africa’s participation in World War II. The other three panels depicted World War I.
Life Cycle
Bronze
Dimensions: Life size
Life Cycle was commissioned in 1970 by the state department Public Works for the new Civitas building in Pretoria, which was destined to house the Department of Internal Affairs.
The nudity of the sculpture group caused a public outcry by churches and Die Vrouefederasie. It resulted in a big controversy, raging in the media for a period of four years. The media storm placed the sculpture on the agenda of forums such as cabinet meetings and the Publications Control Board.
Although already completed in 1971, the sculpture was only erected in 1974 – on the podium level of the Civitas building where it was completely hidden from the public eye. It remained there for 25 years.
The sculpture can now be seen at the entrance of the Orient Boutique Hotel in Elandsfontein, Pretoria
George Harrison – 1988
Dimensions 4 x life size (9 m high)
The nine meter high George Harrison in Settler’s Park, Eastgate, Johannesburg is one of the biggest and best-known bronze monuments in the country.
This monumental sculpture was commissioned by the Management Committee of the Johannesburg City Council to commemorate the hundredth birthday of the city. It is certainly one of the largest sculptures in South Africa and can be seen next to the highway at Settlers Park, Eastgate.
The Water Nymphs – 1981
Dimensions: 6 m high (figures 1.5 life size)
This work was commissioned by the Executive Committee of the Transvaal Provincial Administration for the Board of Public Resorts. The sculpture was erected on the site of the original warm springs source at the Forever Resort in Bela Bela.
The sculpture symbolises the healing power of the warm mineral springs by means of a water nymph granting the healing water out of oyster shells and two swimming nymphs, demonstrating the energy and vitality received from the healing water.
The War Panels at Delville Wood,
France – 1984
Dimensions: 3 m x 10 m
Depicting South Africa’s participation in World War II, in the commemorative museum at Dellville Wood in France, measures an imposing three meters high by ten meters long.
His work is represented in private and public collections all over the world. His subject is the human figure, portrayed nude or semi-nude and, although he also sculpts animals, he prefers to incorporate them into his compositions with human figures.
Tienie was one of four sculptors commissioned by the National Party Government to sculpt wall panels in relief for the Commemorative War Museum at Delvillewood, France. Tienie’s panel was the largest and had to depict South Africa’s participation in World War II. The other three panels depicted World War I.
Life Cycle
Bronze
Dimensions: Life size
Life Cycle was commissioned in 1970 by the state department Public Works for the new Civitas building in Pretoria, which was destined to house the Department of Internal Affairs.
The nudity of the sculpture group caused a public outcry by churches and Die Vrouefederasie. It resulted in a big controversy, raging in the media for a period of four years. The media storm placed the sculpture on the agenda of forums such as cabinet meetings and the Publications Control Board.
Although already completed in 1971, the sculpture was only erected in 1974 – on the podium level of the Civitas building where it was completely hidden from the public eye. It remained there for 25 years.
The sculpture can now be seen at the entrance of the Orient Boutique Hotel in Elandsfontein, Pretoria
