Adriaan van Zyl, was born in 1957 in Vredenburg where he also completed his schooling. From an early age, the Cape West Coast, where he grew up, made an indelible impression on him and inspired him throughout his life. After graduating with a degree in Fine Arts at the University of Stellenbosch, he embarked on a full-time career as painter. The two periods he spent at the Cite Internationals de Arts in Paris afforded him the opportunity to work and exhibit in group exhibitions.
He held six solo exhibitions in South Africa and his paintings were often used on book covers by authors such as Rachelle Greeff, Abraham H. de Vries and Lina Spies. Marlene van Niekerk’s novel, Memorandum, a narrative with paintings, resonates in an entrancing manner with selected paintings from the Hospitaaltyd /Hospital Time series.
Van Zyl’s works are superb examples of South African Elegiac Realism. Despite his short career as painter he was able to make a lasting impression on the South African art world. After a long battle against cancer, he passed away on 27 September 2006.
Adriaan van Zyl is in 1957 op Vredenburg gebore waar hy ook gematriklueer het. Die Weskus-omgewing waarin hy grootgeword het, was vroeg reeds vir hom ‘n voedingsbron waaruit hy lewenslank inspirasie geput het. Hy gradueer aan die Universiteit van Stellenbosch in die Beeldende Kunste en het daarna ‘n voltyds loopbaan as skilder begin. Twee verblyfsperiodes by die Cite Internationals des Arts in Parys het aan hom die geleentheid gebied om daar te werk en uit te stal. Hy het geleenthede gebruik om aan groepuitstallings in die buiteland deel te neem en het ses tematiese solo-uitstallings in Suid-Afrika aangebied.
Van Zyl se skilderye is ook gekies as boekomslae vir die skrywers Rachelle Greeff, Abraham H. de Vries en Lina Spies. Marlene van Niekerk se jongste verhaal resoneer op aangrypende wyse met sy skilderye in die reeks Hospitaaltyd en is gepubliseer as Memorandum, ‘n verhaal met skilderye.
Van Zyl se werk is uitstaande voorbeelde van Suid-Afrikaanse Elegiese Realisme. In sy kort skildersloopbaan het hy ‘n indruk gemaak wat hom as naam in die Suid-Afrikaanse kunswêreld gevestig het. Na ‘n stryd teen kanker is hy op 27 September 2006 oorlede.
Photo: Philip de Vos