T T CLOETE: A BITTER-SWEET STORY......

This sadly sweet story was born in 1994, and since then it persisted in unfolding naturally in Afrikaans....... I regret that this posting will most probably not be understood by many of my English-speaking friends....

Vandag, was vir my ‘n bittersoet afskeid van ‘n geesgenoot, die alombeminde T.T. Cloete.

Ons languitgerekte maar kortstondige verhaal, het begin kort na ek in 1994 aangewys is as die ontvanger van die Verenigde Nasies se Kuns en Filatelie toekening. Die algehele keuse was vir die portret wat ek van Nelson Mandela geskep het, getiteld: ‘REBIRTH’

 

Alvorens ek New York toe is om ontvangs te neem van die toekenning, in Oktober 1994, is ek deur Annatjie Botha (Streekraad vir Kultuursake) genader om ‘n portret van TT Cloete uit te voer as geskenk vir hom en wat ook sou dien as die voorblad van ‘n program vir: ‘T T CLOETE IN KLANK, WOORD EN BEELD’.

Dit is uitgevoer is in die Studio, Staatsteater, Pretoria, Donderdag 22 September 1994.

TT Cloete het die aand, ‘n onvergeetlike indruk op my gemaak. Ek het gereeld gedroom dat ek hom graag weer eendag sou wou ontmoet en dat ons dan rustig in staat sou wees om ‘n in diepte gesprek te kan voer.

Dit het egter bloot ‘n versugting gebly…….

Dus was ek sprakeloos toe ek uit die bloute uit, verlede maand, 11 Junie, ‘n e-pos van hom ontvang het! Na 21 jaar, meld hy toe onverwags aan, hier op my rekenaarskerm……

Ek deel die volledige briefwisseling wat daarna plaasgevind het. Ek was van plan om sy uitnoding om middagete saam met hom te geniet, vir volgende week te rëel (net voor my vertrek na Parys).

11 Junie 2015   2:24nm

BESTE ALETA

DIT IS NOU AL BAIE JARE GELEDE DAT JY DIE SKILDERY VAN MY GEMAAK HET. EK KYK NOG ALKE DAG MET WAARDERING DAARNA, MET MOOI HERINNERINGE.

EK VOLG DIE NUUS OOR JOU EN LEES JOU WEBSITE. JY IS ALTYD IN MY GEDAGTES.

EK IS NOU 91 JAAR OUD EN NOG STEEDS AKTIEF EN KREATIEF. DIE POLIO HET METTERJARE MY BENE VERSWAK MAAR EK LOOP GOED GENOEG MET MY KRUKKE EN REIS NOG BAIE ROND.

MET WAARDERING VIR JOU STEEDS KREATIEWE BESTAAN. GOEIE EN DANKBARE WENSE VIR JOU.

TT CLOETE

  

19 Junie 2015  2:38nm

Liewe Prof Cloete,

(dit klink na ‘n mengsel van formeel en informeel, maar help my gerus maar reg)

Die onverwagse ontvangs van jou e-pos van 11 Junie, het kosbare gevoelens en herinneringe in my losgemaak…..

Dit was destyds vir my ‘n besondere voorreg en plesier, om die portret van jou te kon uitvoer en toe boonop daarna, uitgenooi is na die Staatsteater, waar ek jou persoonlik kon ontmoet. Annekie Botha was nog destyds die skakelpersoon.

Ek het ‘n bekentenis om te maak: Ek is maar al die jare nogal ‘kieskeurig’ oor die keuse van indiwidue van wie ek portrette maak, aangesien daar noodgedwonge a.g.v. my intense fokus, ‘n magiese energie begin ontstaan, (wetend of onwetend) tussen my en die persoon.

Ek het egter nie een oomblik geaarsel toe Annekie die versoek aan my rig nie.

Daar was klaar 3 goeie redes:

Jou diepsinnigheid.

Jou klassieke gelaatstrekke.

Annekie se vertellings en haar respek vir jou.

Deur die jare heen, het ek egter steeds gehunker na ‘n meer informele ontmoeting tussen ons.

Twee dinge sal my gelukkiger maak as die ontvangs vd e-pos:

Eerstens:Aangesien ek maar ‘n ‘hard-copy’ meisie is en nog altyd van ‘regte’ briewe hou, sal dit vir my baie beteken as jy eendag tog vir my ‘n ‘regte brief’ skryf en na my posbus stuur.

Aleta Michaletos

Posbus xxxxx

Menlo Park

Pretoria

0102

Tweedens: Ek vertrou dat ons mekaar tog weer na al die jare sal kan ontmoet.

Natuurlik is ek aangenaam verras om te hoor dat jy op verskeie maniere (geeneen waarvan ek bewus was nie) deur die jare, my doen en late volg. Die bekentenis ontlont ‘n energie van sy eie.

Ek is daarvan oortuig dat die skeppingsdrang- en kreatiewe uitlewing daarvan, die Elixir van die lewe is. Dus vervaag al die ander en word bysaak.... Dit is dus geen verrassing om te verneem dat jy nogsteeds reis en aktief en kreatief is nie.

Nogmaals dankie vir die ‘tasbare’ kontak, ek sien daarna uit om weer van jou te hoor.

Glimlaggend,

Aleta

28 Junie 2015 12:34 nm

liewe aleta

baie dankie vir jou vriendelike brief. ek is dankbaar dat ek weer met jou kontak kon maak en dat jy my brief beantwoord het.

omdat ek in my later jare al meer gely het van die nagevolge van die polio wat ek op my 19de jaar opgedoen het, is dit vir my makliker as mense vir my kom kuier in plaas van die omgekeerde.

jy kan gerus vir my kom kuier. ek woon alleen in my eie huis en word versorg deur 'n swart xhosavrou wat al van 1970 af deel van die familie is. sy is 'n baie goeie kok en onthaal graag. as jy kan kom kuier, doen dit gerus, met vooraf waarskuwing, en geniet midagete by ons.

ek is nog steeds produktief en my dae is vir my te kort, al is ek al 91 jaar oud.

ek gaan soos jy vra 'n regte brief in my handskrif skryf.

met vriendelike groete en liefde.

Tt

5 Julie 2015 8:22nm

Liewe ‘tt’ Theuns,

Ek voel ook innig dankbaar vir die onverwagse korrespondensie wat tussen ons opgevlam het en nou ook die daadwerklike moontlikheid, om ‘n besoek aan jou te kan realiseer.

My mammie was vir ‘n week lank (met ‘n longaandoening) gehospitaliseer en het ek haar daagliks besoek. Sy is verlede Donderdag ontslaan en versterk nou geleidelik. Sy sal in November 88 wees. 

Toe ek jonk was, was my innige vriende 40-50 jaar ouer as ek. Nou dat ek self ouer is (reeds 63) het ek onbepland, heelwat jonger vriende ook. Tydgenote het net vir een of ander rede, nog nooit vir my gewerk nie, maar wel geesgenote wat kan strek oor kleur, politiek, Godsdiens, geslag, ouderdom en klas. 

Ek is heel tevrede met my eie geselskap en raak al hoe meer kieskeurig oor wie ek my tyd mee deurbring. Ek verstaan dus dat jy dieselfde voel en as gevolg daarvan, is jou uitnodiging aan my om jou te besoek, vir my dubbeld so kosbaar.

Jy is gelukkig en bevoorreg om die getroue Xhosa –vrou te hê wat jou liefdevol in jou eie huis en bekende omgewing, kan versorg. Mens skep mos jou nessie wanneer jy jonk en  energiek is en wanneer al jou gedagtes uiteindelik ryp is om te pluk en die boom swaar dra daaraan, wil jy nie kosbare tyd verkwis deur eers weer van voor af nuwe landerye om te skoffel nie.

‘n Woud is nog altyd vir my ‘n metafoor waarmee ek kan identifiseer. My seun bly in Londen en hy weet as ek kom kuier moet hy my na ‘n woud neem om te kan stap. Om in die natuur te stap, maak my sielsgelukkig en jy weet nie dat ek nog meer skryf as wat ek skilder. (Dis net soveel vinniger..) Ek sien in die onbenulligste dinge, groot lewenswaarhede raak, en skryf dit dan naarstiglik neer wanneer ek weer by papier en pen uitkom. So ‘n onverwagse geskenk laat my altyd skatryk en bevoorreg voel. As ek dit egter nie betyds kon neerskryf nie, is dit ‘n geweldige verlies en treur ek oor dit wat verlore is en verdamp het….. maar jy weet seker presies waarvan ek praat….

Ek weet nie of ek werklik mense bejammer wat hulself nie besig kan hou nie en of ek dalk net effens ongeduldig en dalk ook ‘jaloers’ is, op al hul verkwiste tyd….

Ek is baie verdraagsaam maar minder só, wanneer mense eensydig ge-‘entertain’ wil word. Mens voel mos maar altyd daarna moeg en gedreineer.

Die heerlikste ontmoetings is wanneer daar belangstelling en leergierigheid teenwoordig is. Vrae wat aan mens gestel word, (soms selfs onskuldig) kan mens tot diep insigte oor jou eie werk bring en omdat ‘n antwoord altyd verwag word op ‘n onverwagse vraag, moet mens dit behoorlik formuleer en in ‘n sinvolle antwoord verpak.  Jy beantwoord vir jouself ‘n vraag, wat jy nie voorheen kon formuleer nie.

Soms wens jy tydens en daarna, dat jy jou organiese en vloeiende gesprek op band vasgelê het. Van ‘n mens se diepsinnigste gedagtes, verdamp soms in ‘n vakuum van verlange.

Sedert 2000 was ek was al 3 maal bevoorreg om in die Cité Internationale des Paris, te kan bly. Daar woon ek dan, aangrensend aan die Seine en by Pont Marie, in ‘n klein studio in die hart van Parys, waar ek omring is met kreatiewes van oor die hele wereld. Musikante, skilders, skrywers, digters, filmmakers, kan daar na hartelus skep en die wat wil, kan saam werk aan ‘n konsep of projek. Ek voel slegs daar werklik kunstenaar. Daar word ek nie gekwalifiseer as ‘n man se vrou, ‘n moeder, ‘n ouma, ‘n dogter, suster, tannie of iets behalwe ‘n mens en ‘n kreatiewe wese nie, ek is ‘n kunstenaar….. daar is my tyd my eie en werk ek soms deur die nag om klaar te maak wat ek begin het… Hier word alles net begin, maar selde voltooi….

Aanvanklik sou ek 2 maande gaan maar dit is vir my ook ‘n geweldige ontbering om so lank weg te wees. Mens voel of jy ‘n naelstring geknip het met jou terugkoms. My kompromie is nou 1 maand. Maar ek wéét, dat wanneer ek eers daar is, gaan ek weer nie wil terugkeer nie.

Nes jy, glo ek aan die balans van uiteenlopendes. Jou woorde "Gestremdheid het my vleuels gegee” is die taal wat ek verstaan en praat en wat die kern in my kunsskepping is.

Ek vertrek XX Augustus na Londen (na my seun) en moet dan eers  X Sept. in Parys wees. Daar bly ek dan to XX Sept. en gaan weer terug Londen toe. X Oktober vlieg ek terug na SA. 

Daar is baie om te doen voor ek vertrek, maar ek gaan my uiterste bes probeer om voor my vertrek, eers vir jou te kom kuier. Dit gaan my siel voed….

Baie dankie ook dat jy gewillig is om ‘n brief in jou handskrif, vir my te skryf….

Liefdegroete,

Aleta

29 Julie 2015

En vandag…… die hartseernuus……. Ek wou volgende week sy uitnodiging om middagete by hom te geniet, nakom.

Of die beloofde brief geskryf is en of dit reeds gepos is, weet ek nie…..

Maar vanmiddag het ek naarstiglik in ‘n kas, tussen al my kosbare herinneringe wat o.a. uit uitknipsels, dokumente, briewe en getekende programme gesoek. Daar kom ek toe af op ‘n getekende program van die aand. Maar wat ek totaal van vergeet het en sekerlik die kosbaarste van alles, was die ontdekking van ‘n handgeskrewe brief (tesame met ‘n getikte kopié) wat hy 25 September 1994 aan my gestuur het!

Ek dank onse Hemelse Vader, dat ons toe nog op posaflewering kon staat maak…….sodat ek nou tussendeur my oneindige hartseer en gevoel van verlies, nogsteeds dankbaar kan wees.....

 

© Aleta Michaletos
aletam@icon.co.za 
www.aletamichaletos.com

BEHIND THE SCENES: 'V.I.P. DEPARTURE LOUNGE'

BEHIND THE SCENES

‘Over the years, I've noticed that art lovers and collectors have been interested in and fascinated with the anecdotes concerning my travels and the choices and influences when painting a specific scene, model or image. They have also been curious about the actual art making process or the chosen technique of individual artworks. Whatever information I was willing to share, enabled them to have a more intimate relationship with the art work, which has been enriching all round. Some paintings have historical value whereas others have spiritual depth or are purely sentimental. Yet others are merely decorative and ‘pleasing to the eye’. Please join me behind the scenes, in the arena where all of my art originates and which is an area which is normally not accessible to the casual viewer.’

Herewith I gladly share some anecdotes for:

 ‘VIP DEPARTURE LOUNGE’

After the completion of my school education and encouraged by my father, I enrolled for Architectural studies at the University of Pretoria. After completing one year I changed course and enrolled for BA Fine Arts, which I completed. As a young art student during the early 70’s, much of that which I produced, was imbued with a powerful surreal atmosphere.

In retrospect, this surreal thread, can be followed though-out my life’s artistic production. Some periods are simply more pronounced than others.

During the creation of some new work for my solo exhibition at Oude Drostdy Museum, Tulbagh in 2014, I was rather taken by surprise when a powerful surreal streak, took hold of me and manifested in the new pieces I was producing.

I don’t have a particular inclination towards the macabre, nor do I possess an obsession with decay. However, my paradoxical personality, is merely in perfect balance as I equally adore the fresh and the beautiful…..

My father was an Hotelier in Pretoria and that is where I spent my childhood. By nature he was a developer filled with fresh ideas and he was always in the process of planning and constructing new extensions, buildings and renovations.

As a youngster I loved being on my own and I would spend hours drawing and reading. However, I loved accompanying my father on his explorations to all the large building projects of the time. One of these was 'Sterland' in Pretoria and in Johannesburg, we visited the Carlton Center. Over several  months and many visits, he would meticulously document the entire process with his 16mm movie camera. This included the demolition of the original building, then the excavations and following that, the construction of the new building up to completion. Then, to top it off, we regularly went for dinner at the ‘3 Ships Restaurant’ in the Carlton Hotel, in the years that followed.

From a tender age, I was fed with a diet of ‘process’ and ‘paradox’.

I also recall a few instances when I was exposed to buildings gutted by fire and these events traumatized and fascinated me in an odd way.

I was still in primary school, when a lovely double story home next to Magnolia Dell, burnt down. By chance, I attended a birthday party in the park the following day and I vividly remember walking amongst the wet but smouldering ruins, where I discovered a piece of sheet music. I was an accomplished little pianist and therefore I felt intensely connected and dismayed as I gently held the disintegrating piece of paper between my fingers, staring at the curling black and brown edges and pondering the music that was silenced forever… a sudden tuft of wind caught hold of my treasure and it simply vanished in thin air, as the powdery ash, filtered onto the messy floor below.

Realizing then, how valuable things that had often taken decades of effort and nurturing to establish, could be destroyed in an instant, shaped my thoughts and acknowledgement of the transience of Man and Life in general.

A triple story block of flats in Beatrix street, hardly 2 blocks away from our hotel, also lay in ruins, after it caught fire the previous night. The children of the neighborhood excitedly donned their gowns and slippers and gawked as the giant flames licked towards the stars obscured by smoke and the gigantic red fire engines with howling sirens and spraying hoses, tried to douse the fire in vain.

My brother owns the Farm Inn hotel. A few years ago, the thatch roof was struck by lightning and practically everything was destroyed. I witnessed the fruitless attempts of dozens of brave firemen, trying to save the extensive building-complex from the devouring flames. The next morning, armed with my camera, I impassively and scientifically documented the destruction. Some of my discoveries between the smoking rubble made me ecstatic. What I found most intriguing, were the signs and evidence of places where the guests were in the middle of a meal when the fire took hold and they were still oblivious as to the imminent disaster. Knives, forks, broken plates and glass, lay silently on the ground as though their placing, had been awkwardly set there. The tables and chairs had all been consumed by the flames.

A baby grand piano had been completely destroyed.. all that was left, were some screws and the metal resonator, which now lay down flat, in the ash.

Several years ago, a week before Kwa Maritane Bush Lodge burnt down, I was there as a guest and I extensively documented the beautiful buildings and surrounding gardens. A week later I was back, but this time, to document the devastating damage and the ruins that were left after tragedy struck. I noticed that that which had not entirely disappeared, had been entirely transformed.

These vivid memories highlighting destruction and transience on the one hand and my unquenchable creative urge and yearning for beauty on the other, confirms the origin of this new series.

Two of several of my newly discovered passions, is URBEX (Urban Exploration) and the beauty of rambling old cemeteries and the exquisite ivy- and lichen-covered sculptures.

Yet again, beauty is tempered and patined by time and season, or vandalized by vagrants.

During my first 2 month residency at the Citè des Arts in Paris 2000, I documented the magnificent walls of old buildings as well as the cemeteries of Paris.

A series of paintings was produced for a collector, after I visited Morocco in 2005 and India (Ajanta and Ellorah) in 2006.

I became aware of the magnificent patina on the walls and wandering along the ancient Medinas, made me aware of how decades of gradual transformation and prime examples of fine architecture and antiquities, could be instantly destroyed by an act of terrorism or the declaration of war. 

Series: Unpolished Gems from the Orient: 'DREAMING OF NOTHING' 2006

Series: Unpolished Gems from the Orient: 'AQUARELORAH'

My fascination with this particular metaphor, can be described as follows:

I contrast my deep and underlying interest in Architecture, together with the gradual decay accounted for by nature and humans with instant disasters, catastrophes and interventions, also caused by means of nature and humans.

The paradox is further highlighted by contrasting that which is God-made (e.g. clouds) and that which is man-made (e.g. buildings).

Our worldly aspirations for status and prestige (as manifested in material possessions such as imposing architectural structures), is brought into perspective through the irony of decay and impermanence, as well as the constant threat of instant annihilation.  

The mystery of life and that which is hidden or invisible, is symbolized by the dark windows…..one feels as though the building has acquired human qualities and the windows become eyes that simultaneously peer at us, while we are in the process of observing the painting.  It is only once this interactive exchange and assessment as well as the mutual observation between the spectator and the artistic creation is understood, that the title: ‘V.I.P. DEPARTURE LOUNGE’ (2014) becomes evident.

© Aleta Michaletos
aletam@icon.co.za 
www.aletamichaletos.com