Page 12 - Boardwalk Meander Issue 1_2024

ARTISTIC CORNER

y name is Estian Gericke, works of art. My business model
I am 29 years old, and I involves online advertising on
Mam a sculptor. I am the platforms like Facebook and
youngest of four siblings, and I Instagram, as well as reaching out
have always been the artistic one to friends and relatives to explore
in my family. While my siblings potential commissions. While I
chose careers in the corporate primarily create my own works,
world and architecture, I pursued I am open to fulfilling clients’
my passion for art. My other specific requests. I also exhibit my
hobbies are tennis, dancing art in galleries to gain exposure;
and reading. My business name sometimes they are auctioned,
is Steel Spark and Craft and it and some works can be found in
encompasses various creative public places, such as the large
aspects such as welding and metal scissor at the Jawy hairdresser
casting. The primary focus of my in Pierre van Ryneveld and the
business is to create sculptures mermaid at King Price Menlyn.
that capture elements of life
and embody both masculine and I have encountered challenges
feminine beauty. in the past and occasionally,
I still face tight deadlines and
My artistic journey began at a unforeseen problems in the
young age when I visited scrap artistic process. For example, the
yards to collect metal pieces casting of hot metal into a mould
which I then welded together to can cause the mould to crack
fashion objects like soldiers and under the heat, necessitating the
animals. After completing my re-casting of the mould.
diploma at TUT in 2016, I secured
an internship at Angus Taylor’s My future goals include
foundry in Silverton. establishing myself as a
renowned artist in South Africa,
There I gained invaluable with my works prominently
experience in the art of displayed in galleries and public
transforming clay sculptures into spaces. Pursuing a career in
bronze artworks. After four years the world of art is no easy feat,
with Angus, I decided to embark especially in South Africa where
on my own sculpting journey. it’s often viewed as a luxury,
Since 2021, I have been whole- and not everyone can afford
heartedly crafting sculptures using artwork. The art industry is highly
recycled steel and aluminium. competitive, and occasionally
The process involves shaping clay slow sales can be disheartening.
into specific artworks and then However, its vital to persist with
moulding it in order for it to be your passion and ambition, as
cast in aluminium and steel. these are the traits that will keep
you motivated. The future of the
My business venture began with art industry appears promising,
exhibitions at art galleries, and with numerous corporate
from there, word of mouth led to businesses and clients investing
commissions. in art. People are becoming more
conscious of the environmental
What sets my work apart is impact of the art market and are
the combination of recycled open to innovative methods of
aluminium, steel and sometimes art creation.
bronze. The unique characteristics
that emerge in the metal during As Albert Einstein once said:
the casting process, along with “Imagination is more important
its natural patterns, make my than knowledge. Knowledge is
artworks stand out. I find great limited. Imagination encircles the
joy in turning my imaginative world.”
ideas into artworks which have
a deeper meaning that people Email:
can relate to. Another aspect estiangericke@gmail.com
I cherish is the ability to take Tel: 072 628 1014
materials often deemed as waste Instagram:
and unlock their potential as @steelsparkandcraft

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Boardwalk Meander Estate Issue 1 · 2024
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