ARTIST STATEMENT
Changing Shape
These works explore the relationship between light and shadow — what is visible and what is hidden.
The sun reveals the passage of time as it changes the shape of shadows while travelling across the sky. These images reflect that journey, capturing fleeting moments within this transformative process.
Viewed together, they depict a balance of masculinity and softness, of isolation and a longing for connection.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
As a young boy, Michael would smear paint on his face, balance the family point-and-shoot camera on a stack of books, and set it to self-timer. These self-portraits were his first taste of image-making and expressing himself through photography.
This innate creativity has remained constant throughout Michael’s artistic journey. He presents bold colours and daring subject matter, unafraid of incorporating an element of play. His use of the human form and body language is key to creating his sculptural images.
Growing up in the small coastal city of East London, South Africa, Michael received his first camera at sixteen — a vessel through which he could express himself in a conservative environment. His move to the metropolis of Cape Town further shaped his dynamic imagery, combining sun-kissed bodies with bold colours and curved lines that echo the natural landscape.
Michael also works in the field of fine art. With three solo exhibitions of his shapely painted works, his visual universe continues to expand.
