BIOGRAPHY

(b. 1965 London, UK)

“Each work is simply a point on a journey – a journey which is an attempt at, a quest in search of truth. A goal which is both mysterious and highly illusive. It is a quest that will preoccupy me for the rest of my life.”

Arabella was born in London and grew up in Tuscany before moving to Johannesburg, where she spent her teenage years. She then went to Edinburgh University after which she lived and studied in Florence, London and New York. She returned to South Africa in 1990 and now lives and works in Cape Town.

Arabella draws inspiration from the people, places and objects she loves. From the light where she lives and the wilderness where she goes to find peace and silence. The feeling of quiet and perhaps stillness in the work reflects the ambience she creates around her, in order to find inspiration and access her creativity.

Arabella Caccia’s recent work is inspired by an exploration of patterns found in the play of light and dark on natural forms. Her paintings and sculptures use an abstract language of semi-symbolic glyphs discovered in these patterns. The primary principal underpinning her work is the belief in the importance of process. Caccia’s paintings and sculptures use an alphabet of glyphs derived from an investigation into forms found in nature. Caccia uses an alphabet of both 2 and 3- dimensional mark making to express a state of being.

Caccia’s work has most recently found expression through the study of trees, first the Baobab tree studied in Botswana followed by work in the ancient Milkwood forests of the Western Cape and then the Tsitsikamma forest biome. Her exploration has included detailed drawings of plants and trees followed by a thorough investigation into the patterns created by the bark formations of various indigenous trees. Drawing, taking moulds and printing has lead to uncovering of an alphabet of glyphs which are found in all forms and which when further abstracted form a script like visual language. Caccia uses these universal forms to recreate two and three dimensional works that by their intrinsic universality aim to create experiences that echo those of nature herself.

By steeping herself in un-spoiled expanses of the planet Caccia seeks to deepen her exploration into the plant kingdom, rock and land formations, and so refine and challenge the language and the expression of her work.

EDUCATION

1983          University of Witwatersrand
1984-88     Edinburgh University
1988-89     Parsons School of Design, New York, USA

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2021        CONSTELLATION, solo exhibition, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
2021        SUMMER, Everard Read, London, UK
2020        Bronze, Steel, Stone & Bone, Everard Read, London, UK
2020        STILL, Everard Read Gallery Group, online

2020        On Being, Everard Read Franschhoek, South Africa
2020        Journeys of the Mind, Everard Read Franschhoek, South Africa
2019        Southern Aspect - A Group Exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK
2018        Without Words, solo exhibition,  Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
2017        20th Anniversary, Knysna Fine Art, Knysna, South Africa
2017        Cubicle, Everard Read CIRCA, Cape Town, South Africa
2015        The Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, South Africa
2012        Solo exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa
2010        View from the South, group show, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2010       Sight, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2006        Reverie, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2003        Judith Wall and Sara Pearce Fine Art New York, USA
2002        Spark Gallery Johannesburg, South Africa
2000        Sara Pearce Fine Art London UK
1999       Sara Pearce Fine Art London UK
1998       Hamilton Russell Vineyards South Africa
1995       Karen McKerron Fine Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
1994       Karen McKerron Fine Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
1993       Chelsea Gallery Cape Town, South Africa
1991        Mall Galleries London, South Africa

AWARDS

1995        Vita Art Now, Johannesburg Art Gallery South Africa – selected artist.