Christiaan Diedericks
BIO
Energetic, healthy, professional and self-motivated practising contemporary artist, educator and creative development specialist with proven facilitation skills and experience in education, soft skills, technical skills and (project) management skills, as well as extensive experience in the specific areas of new media, printmaking, graphic design, creative process and also the design, implementation and facilitation of curriculum programmes in-line with national qualification Initiatives.
Inherent ability to collaborate effectively within a team in order to realise organisational objectives through transformational leadership. Motivator with well developed communication and interpersonal skills and commitment to excellence in art practice, research, education and conceptual development.
Christiaan Diedericks
BSc, MA(Fine Arts)
(professional artist, educator, creative process navigator)
BSc – 1986
BA(FA) cum laude – 1992
MA(FA) practical distinction – 2000
2006 - Ampersand Foundation Fellowship, New York City
2015 - Beijing Biennale in China
2020 – FIRST PRIZE for experimental printmaking, Miniprint Kazanlak, Bulgaria
2021
: Doctor Raya Mayo AWARD, AU$8000, InkFest, 5th InkMasters Biennial 2021, Tanks Art Centre, Cairns, Australia
: FIRST PRIZE, Mudi in Arte 2021 Artist’s Prize, 1500 Euro - Diocesane Museum of Salerno, Italy
: WINNER of the award trophy for Printmaking at the International Spiritual Art Award 2021, USA
2022
: FINALIST, 5th Printmaking Bienial, Cãcãc, Serbia
: CONSCIOUSNESS, Palazzo Albrizzi-Capello with the ITSLQUID group, VENICE during the 59th Venice Biennial, 2022, Italy
: SECOND PRIZE, Diego Donati Prize, 7th Biennial of Contemporary Printmaking 2022, Perugia, Italy
2023
: WINNER of an International Digital Art Excellence Award, Online DIGITAL ART COMPETITION, Bindaas Artist Group (BAG), India, 2023
: FINALIST - XVI International Graphic Art Biennial DRY POINT, Uzice, Serbia, 2023
: HONORABLE MENTION - Circle Arts Artist of the Year Contest, USA, 2023
: PRIZE-NOMINATED - 12th Kochi International Triennial of prints, Japan 2023
: GRAND PRIZE - 1st International Biennale of Miniature Art Graphics and Drawings-Bitola-IBMB - Bitola 2023
2024
: FINALIST - International Print Triennial Krakow (MTG), Poland, 2024
: FINALIST - 2024 Taiwan International Print Biennial
: EXCELLENCE AWARD (Medal) – Zeitgeist Art Foundation, Kolkata, India
: DISTINCTION - Berrybox International Art Bienniale - Glass Drawers, Poland
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
In many ways I aim to rewrite history in my work and the dominant sense of self-awareness that informs most Western art practices. I am trying to present contemporary issues such as Difference as timeless, by situating my vocabulary of images and themes in an organic flux of dreams, history, politics, news, commercial detritus, and unvoiced feelings and forces of biological nature/desire. Stylistically, my work is often influenced by mythology, surrealism and magic realism. I aim to stay clear of any literal explanations of my work and believe that no work of art or “visual text” is ever complete. To me, the ongoing input by viewers and the debate between the viewer and the artist, keep on adding new meaning to my initial concept and hence enrich my work. Technically, I am currently investigating new technology to make work. This includes Giclee (digital) printmaking, laser engraving and other experimental ways of making prints. I am combining traditional printmaking processes with new technical possibilities and in doing so, create hybrid prints. Conceptually, I am still interested in issues of gender identity, world politics, and various forms of inequality persisting in an outdated patriarchal reality. Ideas about post-truth as a marker/mirror for contemporary society, as especially fueled by social media, resonate very deeply with me.
