Jake Aikman works intuitively with scale, focus and repetition to produce paintings that capture the mystery and ambiguity of an isolated moment. His paintings often delve into contexts obscured by natural phenomena. Vast seascapes, remote coastlines and dense forests typify Aikman’s practice, where a calm surface alludes to the unknown that lies beneath. His ever-changing palette reveals rich nuances of colour and tonal depth, which further echo the complexity of the emotional drama that underpins his subject matter.
BIOGRAPHY
Jake Aikman was born in London in 1978 and currently lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa. He obtained his Masters of Fine Arts (specialising in painting) in 2008 from the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, after completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2005. Aikman had his first solo exhibition This Must Be The Place in 2006. Since then, he has presented five solo exhibitions including Echoes (2009), Proximity (2011) and At the Quiet Limit (2013) at SMAC Gallery. His latest solo exhibition Confini Velati/Veiled Boundaries was presented in 2014 in Rome following a residency in Trevignano Romano in Italy, which was facilitated by the Centro Luigi Di Sarro.
In 2009 Aikman exhibited in L’Anima Del Acqua: The Spirit of Water an exhibition presented as part of the 53rd Venice Biennale. He was also an invited artist for the 4th Beijing International Art Biennale and exhibited in Paralleli, an official exhibition to the 2nd Sabbionetta Biennale in 2010 and the Olympic Fine Arts exhibition Creative Cities Collection that was held at the Barbican Centre in London in 2012.
Currently Aikman is working towards his sixth solo exhibition, scheduled to take place late in 2016.
GALLERY SOLO EXHIBITIONS / PRESENTATIONS
At the Quiet Limit | 18.07.13 – 19.09.13
Proximity | 13.10.11 – 30.11.11
Echoes | 19.03.09 – 10.05.09
GALLERY GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Cape Town Art Fair 2016 | 18.02.16 – 21.02.16
FNB Joburg Art Fair 2015 | 11.09.15 – 13.09.15
Cape Town Art Fair 2015 | 26.02.15 – 01.03.15
Viewing Room #03 Landscape | 26.08.14 – 13.09.14
FNB Joburg Art Fair 2014 | 22.08.14 – 24.08.14
miart 2014 | 28.03.14 – 30.03.14
Cape Town Art Fair | 28.02.14 – 02.03.14
Paperwork: an exhibition of Contemporary South African works on paper | 13.02.14 – 17.05.14
The Xmas Show | 12.10.13 – 12.01.14
PAINT I: Contemporary South African Painting 2002 – 2012 | 27.11.12 – 26.01.13
Cape Town Art Fair | 25.10.13 – 27.10.13
FNB Joburg Art Fair 2013 | 27.09.13 – 29.09.13
COLLECTION 17 Modern and Contemporary South African Art: 1952 – 2012 | Aardklop Nasionale Kunstefees / National Arts Festival | Potchefstroom | 2.10.12 – 6.10.12
FNB Joburg Art Fair 2012 | 07.09.12 – 09.09.12
Divisions: Aspects of South African Art 1948 – 2010 | 5.06.10 – 31.08.10
PUBLICATIONS
Jake Aikman: At the Quiet Limit (2013)
PRESS/NEWS ARCHIVES
Works by Jake Aikman, Ruann Coleman, Peter Eastman and Anton Karstel feature in (In) The Nature of Things at the Old Synagogue Building, Hermanus | 5 June – 16 June 2015
Article: Die Burger – Aikman Stal Uit in Italie | June 2014
Jake Aikman exhibits Confini Velati at Centro Luigi Di Sarro, Rome | 5 – 20 June 2014
Jake Aikman: Artist in Residence at the Centro Di Sarro in Rome | May 2014
Review: Cape Times – Theatrical elements rule contemplative works | 22 August 2013
Review: Die Burger – Hoop en Paradoks in Aikman se Voorstellings | 19 August 2013
Jake Aikman and Abrie Fourie included in Cross-Currents at DAVID KRUT PROJECTS | 31 July – 25 August 2012
Jake Aikman, Wayne Barker and Johann Louw selected for Fourth Beijing International Art Biennale | 20 September 2010 – 10 October 2010
Review: Art Times – SMAC Gallery sends 3 Artists to the Prestigious 53rd Venice Biennale | July 2009
Review: Cape Times- SA Turns Heads in Venice | July 2009
