“Art is a bug that never leaves you alone.” Wilhelm Saayman

Wilhelm Saayman is living a life where no-one tells him what to do. He is making what he wants to make. He is inspired by the human condition: “getting older, growing hair where you didn’t have any before, finding the special in the mundane”.

Hey Wilhelm. I really dig your style man, talk to me about your passion for drawing…..What do you love about it…?

I love drawing, mainly on paper, and I prefer smaller works as they feel more intimate, immediate. I also love humour with a dark twist to it. It’s great when people laugh when they see my work. I like drawings that seems as if not much time or effort went into it (but actually took ages to make). I like things that look rough and unschooled.  I love when you can see the hand, the craft, in a drawing. The human, individual touch.

Match a word to these colours

Red = blood

Black = eyes

Blue = bruises

Yellow = hair

Brown = pooh and flesh

White = mistakes, missed opportunities

Any particular artists in our beautiful Mother City you want to mention? Why?

Jane Alexander for her sculptures.

Georgina Gratrix and Trasi Henen for their paintings.

Is there any message you are trying to communicate through your work? Is this pre planned or does it evolve along with the piece?

My work asks questions about life and our place in it. Is being alive what we think it is? What value do we attach to it? What happens at the end of it? How have we lived it?  What will we leave behind?

Ever told a lie?

I told people that I had a twin brother. That way I could blame my bad behaviour on him.

Are you messy?

More like sprawling.

Give me words I can thow with a smile at someone else…

Your efforts are all that you have. Keep making stuff.

Any creative regrets?

Ask me again in 20 years.

Iconic heroes from your youth??

Kelly Slater or Rodney Mullen.

Complete these sentences:

“Gimme some more blank paper, good shoes and interesting people”

“Take your anger, hate and negativity and piss off”

They talk about opportunities not landing on your lap…well, say one did – what would it be?

A beautiful gallery, a curator that understands my work and doesn’t use the word ‘quirky’ to describe it.

What’s next for you?

Publishing another book of drawings, more shows.

And for me? Well some interweb browsing and then maybe a bit of drawing myself. Wilhelm’s gust and a display of that pure childlike love of art has got me feeling all young at heart and what not. It’s time to make some mess.

Peace out kids, until next time.

Sarah Claire * Cape Town’s little Mookster





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