BIOGRAPHY
Chris Soal (b. 1994) is an award-winning, emerging South African artist.
Soal’s studio-based practice is sculptural in its output, working with objects and materials in ways which show not only a conceptual engagement with the contexts and histories of the objects, but that also re-enforce the body as a site for knowledge reception and production.
Soal’s works seek to make a poetic statement through the simplest of means, engaging the viewer’s spatial awareness and perception while challenging societal assumptions of value.
Through his use of discarded and mundane ephemera, such as toothpicks and bottle caps, along with concrete, rebar, electric fencing cable and other industrial materials, Soal’s work intuitively develops the familiar to the point of the uncanny. Soal’s works can be considered as a social abstraction that is deeply rooted and reflective of having grown up in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Specifically, the artist’s work with beer bottle caps explore the legacy of gold mining in the city, with the illusory concavities and convexities of his spiralled wall pieces becoming suggestive of the appearance and disappearance of mine dumps and sinkholes. Foregrounding pressing ecological concerns, the artist’s works with toothpicks primarily consider and seek to expose the paradoxical relationship humankind has with nature, that of simultaneous dependence and domination.
–
Portrait by Matthew Bradley.
NEWS
APRIL ‘22 - ART BRUSSELS
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present a solo presentation of new works at Art Brussels 2022. View the presentation at Booth D20 in the Discovery Section.
︎Click here for more information.
APRIL ‘22 - EXPO CHICAGO
Chris Soal formed part of a group presentation by WHATIFTHEWORLD in the 2022 Expo Chicago.
︎Click here for more information.
MARCH ‘22 - ARTIST IN RESIDENCY WITH SAFFCA.EU
Chris Soal is one of the first 2022 resident artists in the SAFFCA.EU artist in residency programme.
︎Click here for more information.
OCTOBER ‘21 - NORVAL FOUNDATION
Chris Soal is pleased to have been included in the announced shortlist for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize.
The 30 shortlisted artworks are presented in an exhibition at Norval Foundation until 28 February 2022, and form part of The Norval Sovereign African Art Auction hosted by Sotheby’s.
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ‘21 - NIROX FOUNDATION
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present Elegy at The Nirox Foundation’s The Covered Space. In response to the context and conditions of the exhibition space, key works spanning the last four years have been selected from the artist’s own collection.
Elegy touches on themes of ruins, decay, erosion, the relic and effigy, and stands in conversation with the artist’s first large-scale outdoor installation, Relic (2019-2021).
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ’21 - NIROX FOUNDATION SCULPTURE PARK
Chris Soal is pleased to announce the inclusion of his work in the group exhibition – Margins of Error at the Nirox Foundation Sculpture Garden in Johannesburg.
︎Click here for more information.
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present a solo presentation of new works at Art Brussels 2022. View the presentation at Booth D20 in the Discovery Section.
︎Click here for more information.
APRIL ‘22 - EXPO CHICAGO
Chris Soal formed part of a group presentation by WHATIFTHEWORLD in the 2022 Expo Chicago.
︎Click here for more information.
MARCH ‘22 - ARTIST IN RESIDENCY WITH SAFFCA.EU
Chris Soal is one of the first 2022 resident artists in the SAFFCA.EU artist in residency programme.
︎Click here for more information.
OCTOBER ‘21 - NORVAL FOUNDATION
Chris Soal is pleased to have been included in the announced shortlist for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize.
The 30 shortlisted artworks are presented in an exhibition at Norval Foundation until 28 February 2022, and form part of The Norval Sovereign African Art Auction hosted by Sotheby’s.
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ‘21 - NIROX FOUNDATION
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present Elegy at The Nirox Foundation’s The Covered Space. In response to the context and conditions of the exhibition space, key works spanning the last four years have been selected from the artist’s own collection.
Elegy touches on themes of ruins, decay, erosion, the relic and effigy, and stands in conversation with the artist’s first large-scale outdoor installation, Relic (2019-2021).
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ’21 - NIROX FOUNDATION SCULPTURE PARK
Chris Soal is pleased to announce the inclusion of his work in the group exhibition – Margins of Error at the Nirox Foundation Sculpture Garden in Johannesburg.
︎Click here for more information.
CURRICULUM VITAE
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Solo presentation at Art Brussels,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Brussels, Belgium
2021 - Elegy,
Nirox Foundation,
Johannesburg
2021 - Sleight and Substance,
Montoro 12,
Brussels
2021 - As below so above,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Field of Vision,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Solo Presentation at
TOMORROWS/TODAY,
Curated by Tumelo Mosaka,
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
Cape Town
2018 – Orbits of Relating,
No End Contemporary Art Space,
Johannesburg
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Brussels, Belgium
2021 - Elegy,
Nirox Foundation,
Johannesburg
2021 - Sleight and Substance,
Montoro 12,
Brussels
2021 - As below so above,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Field of Vision,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2019 – Solo Presentation at
TOMORROWS/TODAY,
Curated by Tumelo Mosaka,
Investec Cape Town Art Fair
Cape Town
2018 – Orbits of Relating,
No End Contemporary Art Space,
Johannesburg
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022 - Earth Power!,
Montoro 12,
Brussels, Belgium
2022 - The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize Finalists Exhibition,
Norval Foundation,
Cape Town
2021 - In Times Like These...and Other Stories,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2021 - Witness, curated by Natasha Becker
Piero Atchugarry Gallery, Miami
2021 - 40 under 40, curated by Igsaan Martin.
Twee Jonge Gezellen Wine Estate, Krone x WHATIFTHEWORLD, Tulbagh
2021 - Margins of Error,
Nirox Sculpture Park,
Johannesburg
2020 – Matereality
Iziko South African National Gallery
Cape Town
2019 – Process
BKhz,
Braamfontein
2019 – Il est une fois à l’Ouest.
Frac Nouvelle-Aquitaine MÉCA
Bordeaux, France
2018 – Germination
RAW Material Company
Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Forward
Curated by Ulrich Wolff and Elizabeth Miller-Vermeulen,
Stellenbosch University Museum,
Stellenbosch
2018 – Fresh Voices
Guns and Rain Gallery
Johannesburg
2017 – Washington186 Inaugural Exhibition
Aeroplastics Contemporary
Brussels, Belgium
2017 – NEWWORK19
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg
2016 – undermine
A Collaborative Group Occupation
Curated by Chris Soal,
The Point of Order,
Johannesburg
2016 – Activate/Captivate: Collections Re-engagement
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg
Montoro 12,
Brussels, Belgium
2022 - The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize Finalists Exhibition,
Norval Foundation,
Cape Town
2021 - In Times Like These...and Other Stories,
WHATIFTHEWORLD,
Cape Town
2021 - Witness, curated by Natasha Becker
Piero Atchugarry Gallery, Miami
2021 - 40 under 40, curated by Igsaan Martin.
Twee Jonge Gezellen Wine Estate, Krone x WHATIFTHEWORLD, Tulbagh
2021 - Margins of Error,
Nirox Sculpture Park,
Johannesburg
2020 – Matereality
Iziko South African National Gallery
Cape Town
2019 – Process
BKhz,
Braamfontein
2019 – Il est une fois à l’Ouest.
Frac Nouvelle-Aquitaine MÉCA
Bordeaux, France
2018 – Germination
RAW Material Company
Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Forward
Curated by Ulrich Wolff and Elizabeth Miller-Vermeulen,
Stellenbosch University Museum,
Stellenbosch
2018 – Fresh Voices
Guns and Rain Gallery
Johannesburg
2017 – Washington186 Inaugural Exhibition
Aeroplastics Contemporary
Brussels, Belgium
2017 – NEWWORK19
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg
2016 – undermine
A Collaborative Group Occupation
Curated by Chris Soal,
The Point of Order,
Johannesburg
2016 – Activate/Captivate: Collections Re-engagement
Wits Art Museum
Johannesburg
COLLABORATIONS
2020 – Selected as one of ten contemporary artists to participate in the 5th edition of the Dior Lady Art project.
AWARDS
2021 – Finalist, Norval Sovereign African Art Prize, Cape Town, South Africa.
2020 – Recipient of The Claire & Edoardo Villa Will Trust Grant.
2019 – SEED Award
Presented by the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA) - For career acknolwedgment.
2018 – PPC Imaginarium Award, Overall winner, and winner of the Sculpture category.
2020 – Recipient of The Claire & Edoardo Villa Will Trust Grant.
2019 – SEED Award
Presented by the Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA) - For career acknolwedgment.
2018 – PPC Imaginarium Award, Overall winner, and winner of the Sculpture category.
RESIDENCIES
2022 - SAFFCA.EU, La Cambre, Brussels, Belgium
2021 - Nirox Foundation Residency, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg
2019 – Roma Residenza, hosted by Montoro 12, Rome
2018 – Fellow of the RAW Academié Session 5, directed by Otobong Nkanga. RAW Material Company. Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art. Co-resident with Minnette Vari. Entabeni Farm, Knysna
2021 - Nirox Foundation Residency, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg
2019 – Roma Residenza, hosted by Montoro 12, Rome
2018 – Fellow of the RAW Academié Session 5, directed by Otobong Nkanga. RAW Material Company. Dakar, Senegal
2018 – Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art. Co-resident with Minnette Vari. Entabeni Farm, Knysna
COLLECTIONS
Chris Soal has work in numerous private and public collections, both in South Africa and Internationally. Notable collections include:
The Bunker Artspace, (The Beth Rudin DeWoody collection), USA.
The Braunsfelder Family Collection, Germany.
Galila’s P.O.C. - The Collection of Galila Barzilaï-Hollander, Belgium.
The Kelly and Scott Mueller Collection, USA.
Renee and Robert Drake Collection, Netherlands.
Scheryn Art Collection, South Africa.
Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA), South Africa, France, Belgium.
Modern Art Projects, South Africa.
First Rand Bank, Corporate Collection, South Africa.
The Rupert Family Collection, South Africa.
Barloworld Corporate Collection, South Africa.
Kavita Chellaram Art collection, London, Lagos.
Martin Nielsen Collection, Denmark.
The Trevor Noah Collection, South Africa & USA.
LAM Museum, Lisse, Netherlands.
Arsenal Contemporary, Montreal; Toronto; New York.
MACAAL Museum, Morocco.
The Bunker Artspace, (The Beth Rudin DeWoody collection), USA.
The Braunsfelder Family Collection, Germany.
Galila’s P.O.C. - The Collection of Galila Barzilaï-Hollander, Belgium.
The Kelly and Scott Mueller Collection, USA.
Renee and Robert Drake Collection, Netherlands.
Scheryn Art Collection, South Africa.
Southern African Foundation for Contemporary Art (SAFFCA), South Africa, France, Belgium.
Modern Art Projects, South Africa.
First Rand Bank, Corporate Collection, South Africa.
The Rupert Family Collection, South Africa.
Barloworld Corporate Collection, South Africa.
Kavita Chellaram Art collection, London, Lagos.
Martin Nielsen Collection, Denmark.
The Trevor Noah Collection, South Africa & USA.
LAM Museum, Lisse, Netherlands.
Arsenal Contemporary, Montreal; Toronto; New York.
MACAAL Museum, Morocco.
PRESS
REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES
PALIMPSEST: CHRIS SOAL’S SCULPTURES REVEAL MANY MEANINGS
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
‘WITNESS’ EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AND AFRICAN DIASPORA ARTISTS
︎ by Sergy Odiduro for Artbust
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online
Q&A WITH EMERGING SOUTH AFRICAN ARTIST CHRIS SOAL
︎ with Annzra Denita on House and Leisure
Q&A WITH 2018 PPC IMAGINARIUM WINNER
︎ with Marcia Elizabeth on Bubblegum Club
FIELD OF VISION REVIEW
︎ by Ashraf Jamal on ArtThrob
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
‘WITNESS’ EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN AND AFRICAN DIASPORA ARTISTS
︎ by Sergy Odiduro for Artbust
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online
Q&A WITH EMERGING SOUTH AFRICAN ARTIST CHRIS SOAL
︎ with Annzra Denita on House and Leisure
Q&A WITH 2018 PPC IMAGINARIUM WINNER
︎ with Marcia Elizabeth on Bubblegum Club
FIELD OF VISION REVIEW
︎ by Ashraf Jamal on ArtThrob
INFORMATION
BIOGRAPHY
Portrait by Matthew Bradley.
Chris Soal (b. 1994) is an award-winning, emerging South African artist.
Soal’s studio-based practice is sculptural in its output, working with objects and materials in ways which show not only a conceptual engagement with the contexts and histories of the objects, but that also re-enforce the body as a site for knowledge reception and production.
Soal’s works seek to make a poetic statement through the simplest of means, engaging the viewer’s spatial awareness and perception while challenging societal assumptions of value.
Through his use of discarded and mundane ephemera, such as toothpicks and bottle caps, along with concrete, rebar, electric fencing cable and other industrial materials, Soal’s work intuitively develops the familiar to the point of the uncanny. Soal’s works can be considered as a social abstraction that is deeply rooted and reflective of having grown up in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Specifically, the artist’s work with beer bottle caps explore the legacy of gold mining in the city, with the illusory concavities and convexities of his spiralled wall pieces becoming suggestive of the appearance and disappearance of mine dumps and sinkholes. Foregrounding pressing ecological concerns, the artist’s works with toothpicks primarily consider and seek to expose the paradoxical relationship humankind has with nature, that of simultaneous dependence and domination.
NEWS
APRIL ‘22 - ART BRUSSELS
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present a solo presentation of new works at Art Brussels 2022. View the presentation at Booth D20 in the Discovery Section.
︎Click here for more information.
APRIL ‘22 - EXPO CHICAGO
Chris Soal formed part of a group presentation by WHATIFTHEWORLD in the 2022 Expo Chicago.
︎Click here for more information.
MARCH ‘22 - ARTIST IN RESIDENCY WITH SAFFCA.EU
Chris Soal is one of the first 2022 resident artists in the SAFFCA.EU artist in residency programme.
︎Click here for more information.
OCTOBER ‘21 - NORVAL FOUNDATION
Chris Soal is pleased to have been included in the announced shortlist for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize.
The 30 shortlisted artworks are presented in an exhibition at Norval Foundation until 28 February 2022, and form part of The Norval Sovereign African Art Auction hosted by Sotheby’s.
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ‘21 - NIROX FOUNDATION
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present Elegy at The Nirox Foundation’s The Covered Space. In response to the context and conditions of the exhibition space, key works spanning the last four years have been selected from the artist’s own collection.
Elegy touches on themes of ruins, decay, erosion, the relic and effigy, and stands in conversation with the artist’s first large-scale outdoor installation, Relic (2019-2021).
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ’21 - NIROX FOUNDATION SCULPTURE PARK
Chris Soal is pleased to announce the inclusion of his work in the group exhibition – Margins of Error at the Nirox Foundation Sculpture Garden in Johannesburg.
︎Click here for more information.
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present a solo presentation of new works at Art Brussels 2022. View the presentation at Booth D20 in the Discovery Section.
︎Click here for more information.
APRIL ‘22 - EXPO CHICAGO
Chris Soal formed part of a group presentation by WHATIFTHEWORLD in the 2022 Expo Chicago.
︎Click here for more information.
MARCH ‘22 - ARTIST IN RESIDENCY WITH SAFFCA.EU
Chris Soal is one of the first 2022 resident artists in the SAFFCA.EU artist in residency programme.
︎Click here for more information.
OCTOBER ‘21 - NORVAL FOUNDATION
Chris Soal is pleased to have been included in the announced shortlist for The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize.
The 30 shortlisted artworks are presented in an exhibition at Norval Foundation until 28 February 2022, and form part of The Norval Sovereign African Art Auction hosted by Sotheby’s.
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ‘21 - NIROX FOUNDATION
WHATIFTHEWORLD and Chris Soal are pleased to present Elegy at The Nirox Foundation’s The Covered Space. In response to the context and conditions of the exhibition space, key works spanning the last four years have been selected from the artist’s own collection.
Elegy touches on themes of ruins, decay, erosion, the relic and effigy, and stands in conversation with the artist’s first large-scale outdoor installation, Relic (2019-2021).
︎Click here for more information.
MAY ’21 - NIROX FOUNDATION SCULPTURE PARK
Chris Soal is pleased to announce the inclusion of his work in the group exhibition – Margins of Error at the Nirox Foundation Sculpture Garden in Johannesburg.
︎Click here for more information.
PALIMPSEST: CHRIS SOAL’S SCULPTURES REVEAL MANY MEANINGS
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online
︎ by Drew Haller for That Eclectic
INTERVIEW
︎ with Adam Hencz for Artland
INTERVIEW
︎ with Artoday
INTERVIEW
︎ on As below so above for Tongues
INTERVIEW
︎ with Emilie Froment for Habitat Magazine
AMORPHOUS - THE SCULPTURES
OF CHRIS SOAL
︎ by Andrew Lasane for COLOSSAL
JOHANNESBURG ARTIST’S TOOTHPICK SCULPTURES POINT WAY FOR AFRICAN ABSTRACTION
︎ by Graham Wood on Wanted Online