Piet's works are simply masterpieces. From the metal workman sculpture that has been the centre of attraction at Thapong Visual Arts Centre to the mixed media piece, which exhibited at the centre's members exhibition this week, the dreadlocked artist's works can cajole the viewer into spending his or her last penny. Although art, blacksmith-ing to be precise, came naturally to Piet, the inspiration from his father has been instrumental in driving the young man towards excellence in art. Unlike other artists who cover more than one aspect of art, Piet has focused only on sculpting, especially using metal. Like many artists of his generation Piet's works have been influenced greatly by his surroundings and the events taking place around him.
"I do not want to be a jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none. I believe I can produce good paintings and other works but I want to focus 100 percent on sculpting using different media," he emphasised.However, he believes the turning point was when he decided to join Thapong as a member in 2003. "Blacksmithing was a family thing, that is where I learnt my art but later I realised that I needed a bigger stage and moved here. I found good sculptors who really opened my eyes," he said.Piet explained that there was a thin line separating music and visual art noting that most of his pieces were inspired by stories from the past while others crystallised in his mind while listening to his favourite music, reggae. "For instance that sculpture of a workman was a result of the stories that I heard from my father and other elders about life in the South African mines in the '60s and '70s. But it also symbolises a life of hustle that every man must be prepared to get dirty to earn a living. That guy is prepared with a pick, shovel and his helmet and boots. This shows that he is readying for hard work," Piet told Arts & Culture. Making reference to his mixed media sculpture, which he exhibited at Thapong on Tuesday night, Piet said he was also inspired by the historical events. The large piece is a combination of traditional instruments, which include a two-string guitar, two cornets and a small violin.
