ARABELLA CACCIA

BIOGRAPHY

CACCIA, ARABELLA (c) Rita Silva, Damian Griffiths (4) (1) B&W
ARABELLA CACCIA
(b. 1965 London, UK)
 

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

Caccia draws inspiration from the people, places and objects around her; 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.

“I firmly believe that the energy and focus put into making a work, a deep meditative concentration,produces work of honesty and integrity, with a powerful energy.  It is the process which is of utmost importance.” says the artist.

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. She 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.

 
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
 
2025      Namaqualand, solo exhibition, Everard Read, London UK
              Matter Matters: Artists & Their Media, Everard Read, London, UK
2024      To Lake Tanganyika and Back, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
2021      CONSTELLATION, solo exhibition, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
              SUMMER, Everard Read, London, UK
2020      Bronze, Steel, Stone & Bone, Everard Read, London, UK
2019      Southern Aspect - A Group Exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK 
2018      Without Words, Everard Read, Franschhoek, South Africa
              Summer Exhibition, Everard Read, London, UK
2017      20th Anniversary, Knysna Fine Art, South Africa
2017      Cubicle series, Everard Read/ Circa, Cape Town, South Africa
2015      The Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, South Africa
2012      InToto Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2012      Roedean School, Johannesburg, South Africa
2011      Caccia and Abraham, The White House, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa
2011      Group show, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2010      Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2010      Group show, Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2006      Everard Read, Cape Town, South Africa
2003      Judith Wall and Sara Pearce Fine Art, New York
2002      Spark Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
2000      Sara Pearce Fine Art, London, UK
1999      Sara Pearce Fine Art, London, UK
1998      Hamilton Russell Vineyards, Hermanus, 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, UK
 
 
AWARDS
 
1995      Vita Art Now, Johannesburg Art Gallery South Africa – selected artist
 
 
EDUCATION
 
1983       University of Witwatersrand
1984-8    Edinburgh University
1988-9    Parsons School of Design, New York, USA