Famed sculptor Marco Olivier’s exhibition The Face of Art turns Woodlands Shopping centre into an oasis of art

The exhibition at Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre, Corner of Garsfontein Road and De Villebois Mareuil Drive, Pretoria East, is currently running July 1-August 31, 2023.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

If you went to Woodlands Shopping Centre in Pretoria right now, you would be excused for thinking that the place is a sculpture park populated by the works of a solo artist, well known South African sculptor Marco Olivier. The place is currently an oasis of art.

Titled The Face of Art, these sculptures are bound to enchant you and maybe even connect you with your own spiritual side, something we often take for granted in the era of consumerism and the race to accumulate material possessions.

By featuring these sculptures for a limited period of time this also tells another story of marketing art, but as well as making shopping centres look more friendly to visitors than simply being seen as places where one shops, eats and do more shopping while offering nothing to stimulate other human senses such as intellect as one devours the aesthetics brought by art to a place. In other words art makes place.

In a sense The Face of Art exhibition is a situation of art meeting commerce and in this case, these two aspects of human experience that often do not sit well next to each other, are in fact complimenting one another. The artists gets to be exposed to a larger market beyond the traditional gallery walls. The shopping centre at the same time benefits from the exhibition as it has the ability to lure people interested in the art to the place.

This kind of out of the box art marketing is quite important to the careers of artists in the sense that their works get to be seen and viewed by a larger market, exposing their art practice and art to an audience that normally is absent at art galleries, a privileged space only a few get to be invited to the opening of exhibitions.

This kind of marketing art through shopping spaces is especially suitable for sculptural works and hence The Melrose Gallery in Sandton every year mounts a successful sculptural installation in the streets of Melrose Shopping Centre, transforming the streets into an oasis of art and making visiting the centre feel like one is visiting a sculptural park.

Visiting the place during the exhibition is a pleasurable experience and many a tourist both local and international, is often seen milling around as they admire the works on display.

“Woodlands Shopping Centre is thrilled to announce the highly anticipated mall- wideexhibition, The Face of Art by renowned South African sculptor and artist, Marco Olivier. This captivating journey into the world of bronze sculptures will take place until Thursday, August 31, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a world of artistic expressions brought to life.

Marco Olivier is celebrated for his awe-inspiring art installations across the country. With voluminous bronzes up to 6m tall, his work has mesmerised audiences not only locally but on a global stage too. Now, Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre provides the perfect platform for Olivier to exhibit his unique and eye-catching pieces,”statement frpom centre management reads.

Olivier established himself as a leading figure in the world of art. From his humble beginnings in aircraft engineering and extravagant furniture design to his successful ventures as a professional golfer, Olivier’s journey has been nothing short of fascinating. After founding his first bronze foundry in Cape Town in 2014, Olivier showcased his initial pieces in 2017, marking the start of his rise to prominence. Today, he is widely recognized for his original art in resin and bronze, which stands out for its unique texture and painting effects.

Despite facing challenges along the way, Olivier’s determination and never-give-up attitude have propelled him to become a highly accomplished artist. Specialising in creating spectacular life-size bronze sculptures, he draws inspiration from his extensive experience in the art foundry industry. Supported by his talented team, some of whom boast over 20 years of expertise, Olivier’s creations are truly exceptional. His sculptures have graced the sets of popular TV shows like “Top Billing” and the Netflix series “Blood and Water”, while various movie productions have incorporated his artwork into their sets.

In 2023, Olivier’s talent was recognized on an international scale when he was chosen to represent South Africa at the prestigious Dubai World Art 2023 Competition. He emerged as the winner of the top prize, The Best Artist at World Art Dubai 2023. Since then, Olivier’s art has extended its reach to the Amalfi coastline of Italy, Belgium, Germany, and Mauritius, where it will be showcased in boutique galleries. Notably, international designer and curator Roche Bobois has approached Olivier to feature him as a sculptor in their esteemed international portfolio.

“If life-size sculptures captivate your attention, Marco Olivier’s grand designs are bound to mesmerize you,” said Barbara Perry, Marketing Manager at Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre. “His exquisite bronze sculptures bring a unique blend of creativity and craftsmanship that is truly captivating. We are thrilled to host ‘The Face of Art’ exhibition and invite you to experience the extraordinary beauty of Olivier’s masterpieces throughout our mall.”

Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre invites art enthusiasts, shoppers, and the general public to join them for the mesmerising “The Face of Art” exhibition by Marco Olivier. Prepare to be captivated by the sheer beauty and artistic brilliance of these life-size bronze sculptures. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to experience the work of one of South Africa’s most talented sculptors.

Exhibition details

VENUE: Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre, Corner of Garsfontein Road and De Villebois Mareuil Drive, Pretoria East

DATES: Saturday, July 1 until Thursday, August 31, 2023

ENTRANCE FEE: Free

Woodlands Boulevard Shopping Centre Trading Hours:

Monday to Saturday 9am – 7pm

Sundays 9am – 5pm

Public Holidays 9am – 7pm