<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””>Christopher Denovan was born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1983. In 2005 he graduated with a Diploma in Fine Art (majoring in Painting and Printmaking) from the Ruth Prowse School of Art. Chris then went on to study at The Animation School in 2006 and graduated with two official certificates in Autodesk Maya and Autodesk 3ds Max, respectively. He also went on to win The Best Concept Characters Prize during his time at The Animation School. His experience in animation would subsequently have a significant impact on his approach to art.</span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””>In 2011 Chris began to focus on his fine art and started his painting career. He has gone on to exhibit in various group shows in South Africa, including, among others, Studio 41, Salon 91, The Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery and The Irma Stern Museum. In 2014 Chris was short-listed in the Vuleka Competition for his portrait titled Kouros, while in 2017 he was selected as a finalist for the Sanlam Portrait Award.</span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””> </span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””><b class=””>Artist Statement: </b></span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””>”At art school, I wasn’t very honest with myself – how can you make art if you’re not interested in looking in the one place where it lives; YOU! </span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””> </span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””>Having left art school I was disillusioned and felt lost in the art world. I turned my back on painting and tried to move forward to something else. So I studied and worked in animation. This semi worked for 5 years, and while I didn’t touch a brush to canvas, I did start to learn more about me. </span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””> </span></div>
<div class=”” dir=”auto”><span class=””>Then one day someone very close to me died and life did a somersault which resulted in me picking up a brush once more. Painting again never felt so right. I resigned from my job as an animator, made an art studio for myself and started to create art again. This time with a more mature and honest approach. Gerhard Richter once said; ‘Art is like religion; You only know it once you’ve lost it’. This rang true to me and I knew I was meant to be a painter and nothing else.”</span></div>