Robertson spent the early part of his journey as a visual artist, in the film industry, freelancing as an art director. In between film projects he followed his passion for photography, which was primarily a form of social commentary, often concerned with documenting marginalised lifestyles. After winning a national prize at the Spier Contemporary competition in 2010, for ‘Paper trails’ a documentary project focusing on informal recyclers in Johannesburg, he left the film industry and began to teach himself how to combine painting with photography.
Since then Robertson’s artworks have been acquired by a variety of international collectors from Sweden, the USA, Australia and the UK. Local collectors include the South African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAACA), AFDA and Spier Arts Trust.
“I consider myself a versatile visual artist who feels happiest when pushing the limits of my creative process, whether it be expressionist photography, abstract painting or printmaking. My work is often concerned with the in-between spaces which are not immediately apparent but can be found just under the ‘skin’ of the perceived physical world. A place where fact and fiction, objectivity and subjectivity join hands in a magical dance. Where our so-called physical reality seemingly invites aspects of the metaphysical world to show themselves in the work.”
© Dave Robertson Photographs