For this work I think it would be fun to start on a theoretical note, to confirm the intellectual rigor of my practice and brag that I can unwind and enjoy the writings of an obtuse Marxist: “[Stars] embody the inaccessible results of social labour by dramatizing the by-products of that labour which are magically projected above it as its ultimate goals: power and vacations.” (Guy Debord, 1967)

I love a joyless lefty as much as the next man, but I had to chuckle at the italicized “power and vacations”. That being said I think there is some value in considering depictions of languid celebrities and how they inform our social movement: not as much in the depiction of leisure but the embodiment of a cool and rested air.

This artwork depicts a still from Black Mirror, the dramatization of different endpoints of Debord’s work I suppose. Without summarizing the episode what struck me about this figure (for want of a better term) was how this character exudes power and that is characterized by her comfort in being a member of a leisure class.

This work is a consideration of the visual language of how she navigates a very fraught world with ease because of her aplomb in dressing smart casual.

Fanie Buys (1993 -) is a multi-media artist, working primarily in oils. His figurative style of painting explores the representation of the human figure as reflected in the media, focusing on passé press releases, the Royal Family and gracefully ageing film stars.

Referencing this mix of pop culture and personal experience, Buys is concerned with how these images punctuate and inform lived experience.

His oil painting replications become unique whilst still maintaining the image’s original function – so that one experiences nostalgia, even without the original experience.

Born in Gansbaai in the Western Cape of South Africa, he currently lives and works in Cape Town. Buys obtained a BA in Fine Arts at the Michaelis School of Fine Art in 2016, majoring in print media and obtaining a distinction in Studiowork.

Buys was a co-recipient of the Judy Steinberg Award for Painting and the Simon Gerson Award for an exceptional body of work.

Notable solo exhibitions include Happy Birthday Jesus! at 99 Loop Gallery in Cape Town (2019). He has participated in a number of group exhibitions and his work is included in private and corporate collections, including Spier and Nando’s collections.