leaoda blog: June 2010

"South African Joy"

2010, Inks on canvas/Archival Inks on cotton, 84 x 59,4 cm (33.1” x 23.4”), edition 210
Click on "South African Joy" below
and download a high resolution image for press coverage.

A South African Art Publisher MMX Art in Cape Town contacted me.
MMX Art alias 2010 International Fine Art is licensed to use the phrase “Official Licensed Products of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™” by FIFA.
5 artists from each of the 32 qualifying countries to 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™
were selected to participate in the 2010 International Fine Art project and form the 2010 International Fine Art Collection.
After signing a contract I got the “Artistic Brief” from 2010 International Fine Art:

“The world is coming home to Africa, the cradle of humankind, the site where the story of our species started. It is – in essence – the home of all humanity.
It is also the location for the greatest sporting event in the world – the 2010 FIFA World Cup^TM – the first time in its history that the tournament has been staged in Africa.
The artwork must bring together the elements of this African heritage and fuse it with the energy and excitement of the World Cup, the heights of athletic excellence, the favor of football enthusiasts, and pride of your country’s participation in the tournament.
The original must incorporate at least an element of football in order to celebrate this extraordinary event being brought to African soil.”

The symbolism of "South African Joy" by Asbjorn Lonvig

The Acacia tree and the Baobab Tree are significant trees in South Africa.

I am looking for my inner eye giraffes eating the leaves of an Acacia tree.

The South African Savannah in the East, the bush and dessert in the West are the domicile of a lot of exotic animals such as Zebras, Flamingos, Elephants, Lions, Penguins, and Giraffes.
To me the most outstanding of them is the Giraffe.
In “South African Joy” symbolized by a giraffe skin.

The sun is important to all of us.
In most of South Africa there is subtropical climate witch has an impact on everything.
On nature as well as on people’s conduct and behavior.

From maps we know the shape of the African Continent.
From the name we can guess where South Africa is, but I did not know exact shape of South Africa on beforehand.

FIFA World Cup stadiums in South Africa are scattered around the country:
The stadiums are in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, Nelspruit, Polokwane, Rustenburg, and Pretoria.

In a very short time – when the FIFA World Cup has started - the world will recognize the shape and the colors of the Republic of South Africa's flag:
Red symbolizes the struggle for freedom.
Black and White the different peoples of South Africa.
Yellow the country's mineral wealth.
And green and blue symbolize the country’s fertility and its magnificent scenery and wildlife.

Desmond Tutu – you know, the former archbishop who is always talking and always smiling – called South Africa’s people the Rainbow Nation.
That was because of the country's wonderfully diverse, colourful, and utterly unique society.
Furthermore, South Africa’s National Motto is "Unity in Diversity".

I know about an explorer that drew in his car down through the African continent from the Strait of Gibraltar to South Africa. He told that everywhere kids were playing soccer.To accommodate all the soccer playing children the soccer field is a double field. Double Soccer is the name of the game.There are 4 goals. Two balls in different colors.I have established a Facebook group to form the exact rules. “Help making the Double Soccer rules: As a point of departure I have mentioned a few keywords to the Facebook group members: Fun, fast, exhausting, tactics, strategy, chess, exciting to look at, appealing to electronic medias”.

The imaginative kids of Africa will probably some day amuse themselves by playing double soccer. You may percept many different run patterns in “South African Joy” – run patterns of players’ movements as you will see them on the stadiums of South Africa. Zigzag, forth and back etc. Stepping up the stairs – maybe reaching fame.
Some day an African nation might win the FIFA World Cup™.

Sales - the 2010 International Fine Art Collection
The 2010 International Fine Art Collection consists of 160 motifs.
All of them are fore sale – as you might have calculated there are only 210 of each motif.
The art prints are printed on Hahnemühle Museum Etching 350gsm Fine Art paper using pigment based archival inks.
They are sold on a first come first served principle – so, HURRY UP!!!!

Please contact:
Asbjorn Lonvig, artist
Lille Fejringhus
43 Fejringhusvej
8722 Hedensted
Denmark
+45 75890477
lonvig@mail.dk

If you are a citizen in Germany or South Africa you must contact the authorized sellers in Germany or South Africa.

The 2010 International Fine Art Collection
Click on a thumbnail below and see a larger image and a description.
Till "under construction" below has been removed look at the 2010 International Fine Art Collection web site
- however, still contact: Asbjorn Lonvig.

Algeria
Noureddine Zekara
Rachid Djemai
Layachi Hamidouche
Tahar Ouamane
Hocine Ziani

Argentina
Pablo Di Masso
Juan Carlos Stekelman
Horacio Sanchez Fantino
Mirta Kupfer
Mariano Molina

Australia
Richard Birmingham
Anthony Lister
Chris Wake
Charles Billich
Aaron Kinnane

Brazil
Cybele Varela
Gustavo Rosa
Luiz Cavalli
Marcelo Ferreira
Rogério Dias