'Looking Back'

At the end of Robert Hodgins’ long life, he found being ill “just too tedious!” and was frustrated at the fact that “ I cannot paint!” He was involved in The Great Human Drama, right to his last day. He left a legacy of compelling work behind him, which is evident in the exhibition recently on at Wits Art Museum, a wide survey of his works in print media, and monotype.

Possessed of a mischievous and curious eye with which he critically evaluated the doings of humankind; a lively wit, the sensitivity to include himself in his impressions of our species, and a healthy cynicism, Hodgins was above all the keenest observer of life one could meet. Painting, drawing and printing constantly taught him more about life and the process of producing images. He approached his canvas or paper with feeling and intellect, and found the act of image-making exciting, amusing, but also an intelligent means to understand and examine life, in all its splendour and grossness at once.

This first solo exhibition at Goodman Gallery since his passing in March 2010 presents a full range of his diverse oeuvre, with pencil drawings, prints, a watercolour, tapestry, monoprints, ceramic sculpture and oil painting.

13 April - 11 May