About - Johann van der Schijff

Johann van der Schijff is an artist and Associate Professor of Sculpture at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town. His practice explores the political dimensions of humanity's impact on the planetary ecology, framed by questions of power relations and social disparity. While his earlier work reflected on societal violence and historical South African complexities, his recent inquiries focus on a sculptural and photographic exploration of Deep Time, Shallow Time, and Techno-Cosmic Time.

This work addresses humanity’s place within the rapidly changing planetary ecology, using the Southern African landscape as a specific reference point for a wider political and environmental critique. His practice often adopts a highly personal and at times playful dimension, reflecting on contradictions arising from enormous social disparities.

Van der Schijff’s sculptural and new media works have been exhibited nationally and internationally. He is academically qualified with a Master of Fine Art (New Media) from the Frank Mohr Instituut, Academie Minerva, Groningen, The Netherlands (1997), a Master of Fine Art (Sculpture) from the University of Cape Town (1994), and a Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Pretoria (1990).

Contact Details

Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, South Africa
Mobile: +27 (0)82 330 5335 | Email: johannvds@me.com
www.johannvds.co.za | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Solo Exhibitions

Destiny_02, solo exhibition, GUS – Gallery University Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch, November – 29 November 2025
Destiny_02, solo exhibition, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, 19 February – 19 February 2025
STATE OF EMERGENCY, solo exhibition, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, 29 August – 5 October 2019
Snapshot, solo exhibition, Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Johannesburg, 1 February – 24 February 2018
In a Different Time, solo exhibition, Fried Contemporary Art Gallery, Pretoria, 26 January – 25 February 2017
I to I, solo exhibition, Gallery AOP, Johannesburg, 28 November – 19 December 2015 and 14 – 30 January 2016
Community Punching Bags or CPBs project – an artwork by Johann van der Schijff in collaboration with art educators and high school learners from and around Cape Town, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, 10 – 29 July 2012
Community Punching Bags or CPBs – an artwork by Johann van der Schijff in collaboration with art teachers and learners from Cape Town, Iziko South African National Gallery Annexe, Cape Town, 23 May – 16 June (extended until 23 June) 2012
The Arm-Wrestling Podium or AWP, solo exhibition, Worldart Gallery, Cape Town, 1 November – 9 November 2007
Power Play, solo exhibition, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, 25 April – 20 May 2006
YIELD – solo installation, Ziegler Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands, 1997
An Electronic Laager – solo exhibition, Master of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, 1994

Group Exhibitions

Vital Signs: the environment, loss and sustainability, group exhibition, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, 17 September – 17 October 2024
Pandemic | Praxis | Pedagogy, group exhibition, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, 4 May – 24 May 2023
Another Time, Another Place, group exhibition, Visual Arts building, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 23 January – 11 March 2022

New World Order

HOME IS WHERE THE ART IS

Spier Contemporary Winners Tour

Draw link

Spier Contemporary Winners Tour

Spier Contemporary Winners Tour, KZNSA Gallery, Durban, 27 July – 15 August 2010
Spier Contemporary Winners Tour, Eastern Province Society of Arts and Crafts, Port Elizabeth, 17 June – 17 July 2010
TWENTY – South African Sculpture of the Last Two Decades, Nirox Sculpture Park, Johannesburg, 6 June – 15 August 2010
Own Goal, The Association of the visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town, 31 May – 25 June 2010
Current Matters, The Gallery at Grande Provence, Franschhoek, 18 April – 19 May 2010
Salon Africain du Design, Cotonou, Benin, 26 – 30 April 2010
Spier Contemporary 2010, Cape Town City Hall, Cape Town, 14 March – 14 May 2010. Prizewinner: Artist-in-Residency award, Thamgidi Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands
Temporary Art Product Exchange or T-A-P-E, Made in Arnhem festival of visual arts, Arnhem, The Netherlands, 27 September – 25 October 2009
Ways of life, reconsideration, Exhibition of African designers, 2nd edition of the Pan-African Festival of Algiers, Le Musée national d’art moderne et contemporain d’Alger (MAMA), Algeria, 5 July – 20 July 2009
Spot on… DAK’ART, The Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations, ifa), ifa-Gallery, Berlin, Germany, 3 April – 21 June 2009 & ifa-Gallery, Stuttgart, Germany, 15 October 2009 – 3 January 2010
A century in the service of knowledge: Visuality/Commentary. The Centenary exhibition of the University of Pretoria, Pretoria, 11 – 23 May 2008
DAK’ART 2008, International Exhibition of the Biennale of African Contemporary Art, Théodore Monod Museum (IFAN), Dakar, Senegal, 9 May – 9 June. Prizewinner of two main awards: European Union Award & Zuloga Corporation Award 2008
Joburg Art Fair, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, 13 – 16 March 2008
The Arm-Wrestling Podium or AWP, unveiling of public sculpture, The AVA in collaboration with the J.K. Gross Trust and Spier, The Association of the visual Arts Gallery, Cape Town, 1 November 2007
Home, curated group exhibition, The Old Biscuit Mill, Cape Town, 26 September – 6 October 2006
Public Sculpture Competition and exhibition, J.K. Gross Trust, Spier and the Association For Visual Arts, Cape Town, 23 August – 1 September 2006
Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), curated group exhibition, Oudshoorn, 25 March – 2 April 2005
Curiosity CLXXV, Hiddingh Hall, Cape Town, 22 November – 1 April 2004
The Design Indaba Expo, Bell Roberts Gallery Stand, Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town, 26 – 29 February 2004
The 2nd Spier Outdoor Sculpture Biennale, Spier estate, Stellenbosch, 15 January – 15th March 2004
Picnic, a group show for summer lightly curated by Andrew Lamprecht, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, 8 – 29 November 2003
YDEsire, The 4th Softserve Art Party, The Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town, 22 February 2003
Michaelis School of Fine Art Staff, Variable Contrast – group exhibition as part of The Cape Town Month Of Photography exhibition, Michaelis Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa, 2002
Insig Bioskoop Absolut – animation festival, Klein Karoo Kunsfees, Oudtshoorn, 2002
Yield – group installation as part of URBAN FUTURES exhibition, Civic Theatre Gallery, Johannesburg, 2000
Unplugged– group exhibition, Market Theatre Gallery, Johannesburg, 2000
Groundswell – contemporary South African art exhibition, The Mermaid Theatre Gallery, London, UK, 1996
Radio South Africa: radio’s by artists – group exhibition, Kunsthal, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, 1995
Johannesburg Bienale – fringe exhibition, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1995
Transport Show – group exhibition, Everard Read Contemporary Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1994
Volkskas Atelier Award – competition, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1993
Volkskas Atelier Award – competition, regional finalists, Cape Town, South Africa, 1993
Volkskas Atelier Award – competition, finalists, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1991
USA Information Service – group exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa. 1990
Private group exhibition, Pretoria, South Africa, 1990
SANLAM bursary competition – competition, Cape Town, South Africa, 1989 – 1990
Sasol New Signatures competition, overall winner 1988, Pretoria, South Africa, 1988 – 1990
3rd World Festival of Black Arts and Cultures, Biscuiterie, Dakar, Senegal, 10 – 31 December 2010
Brave New World. . . 20 Years of Democracy – a selection of works acquired between 1994 and 2014 for the permanent collection, Iziko South African National Gallery (ISANG), Cape Town, 3 July – 1 November 2014
Capital: Contemporary – a selection of works of artists who originally come from Pretoria but who now live and work elsewhere and who have a strong national and or international presence, Fried Contemporary Gallery, Pretoria, 15 November – 13 December 2014
Going Forward, Yango Biennale 2014, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, 21 November – 19 December 2014
La Techné, l’Art du Designer, 6th Edition of the International Festival of Contemporary Art of Algiers – FIAC 2014, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMA), Algiers, Algeria, 10 November – 2 December (artist workshop), 3 December – 28 February 2015 (accompanying exhibition)
Boschendal Sculpture Garden, group exhibition, Boschendal Wine Estate, Franschhoek, 27 October 2017 – 23 January 2018

Awards

2013  – UCT Creative Works Award – Community Punching Bags. The Creative Works Award was established to recognise major creative works, including art works, performances, productions, compositions and architectural designs produced by UCT staff.
2010  – Spier Contemporary 2010, Cape Town City Hall, Cape Town, 14 March – 14 May. Prizewinner: Artistin- Residency award, Thamdigi Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands.
2008  – International Exhibition of the Biennale of African Contemporary Art, DAK’ART 2008, Dakar, Senegal, 9 May to 9 June. Prizewinner of two main awards: European Union Award & Zuloga Corporation Award.
2006  – Winner Public Sculpture Competition, Association For Visual Arts, Cape Town
1991  – Merit award Volkskas Atelier Award
1990  – Merit award New Signatures Competition, South African Association of Arts
1990  – Runner up Best rag magazine, South African Universities – Editor
1989  – Winner Best rag magazine, South African Universities – Editor
1988  – Overall winner New Signatures Competition, South African Association of Arts
1986  – Best matric art student, Afrikaanse Höer Seunskool

Publications

VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2015. Destiny_02 (exhibition catalogue). University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 1-84. ISBN: 978-1-0492-2012-3 (print); 978-1-0492-2013-0 (e-book)
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2015. I to I. (exhibition catalogue). University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 1-42. ISBN: 978-0-620-53521-2
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2012. Community Punching Bags or CPBs – an artwork by Johann van der Schijff in collaboration with art teachers and learners from Cape Town (exhibition catalogue), University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 1-85. ISBN: 978-0-620-53521-2
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2010. Heartbreaker, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 56-60. ISBN: 978-0-620-48450-3
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2008. Participatory Podia, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 86-91. ISBN: 978-0-620-42166-9
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2006. Iron Triangle, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 70-73. ISBN: 978-0-620-37407-1
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. (ed.) 2005. Power Play (exhibition catalogue). Bell-Roberts Publishing, Cape Town. 1-24. ISBN: 0-9585104-7-4
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 2003. Missile/Missile, Artworks in Progress, journal of the staff of the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, Cape Town. 55-59.
EBERT, D. (ed.) 1997. ACM SIGGRAPH 97 Visual Proceedings. The Art and Interdisciplinary Programs of SIGGRAPH 97. New York: The Association for Computer Machinery, Inc. ISBN 0-89791-921-1 page 144, The Virtual Harvester Project.
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 1997. The Virtual Harvester. Documentation and commentary on the body of practical work submitted for Postgraduate Programme in New Media, Academie Minerva, Hogeschool van Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands. 51 pages.
VAN DER SCHIJFF, J. 1994. An Electronic Laager. Documentation and commentary on the body of practical work submitted for the degree of Master of Fine Art at the University of Cape Town. 110 pages.

Presentations

Community Punching Bags as part of a round table discussion What are the components needed to create a good platform for intercultural dialogue and art? Oslo Platform, 54th Venice Biennial, Italy, June 2 2011
Artist presentation, Thamgidi Foundation, Arnhem, Netherlands, 19 June 2010
Salon Africain du Design, Cotonou, Benin, 26 – 30 April 2009
Ways of Life, Reconsideration, Exhibition of African designers, 2nd edition of the Pan-African Festival of Algiers. Related conference at École supérieure des beaux arts d’Alger (ESBA) Parc Ziryab – Boulevard Krim Belkacem, Algeria, 6 July 2008
Conference Co-Chair, DIS2008 – the ACM conference on Designing Interactive Systems, Cape Town, South Africa, Monday 25 February – Wednesday 27 February, http://old.sigchi.org/dis2008/ or http://www.sigchi.org/dis2008/ 2006
Chair, New forms of interaction session, DIS2006 – the ACM conference on Designing Interactive Systems, Penn State University, State College, Pennsylvania, USA, Monday June 26 2004
Design Symposium, Reflections on design and design education, Department of Fine Arts, University of Stellenbosch, 29 – 30 March 2002
UCT Film and New Media Institute, Sithengi, The 7th Southern African International Film and Television Market, Cape Town, 10 – 14 November
UCT Institute for Film and New Media, DEFSA (Design Education Forum of South Africa) National Conference, Design, Research and Development, Clarens, Eastern Free State, 22 – 24 September
Web design and the use of the Web in film and new media production, 4th Annual Conference on World Wide Web Applications, University of Stellenbosch Business School, Bellville, Cape Town, 4 – 5 September
Institute for Film and New Media, CITI Listening Lunch – public presentation. Cape Information Technology Initiative, The Bandwidth Barn, Cape Town, 12 July 1999
Two Opposing Trends – Partitioning of media subjects at educational Level, Convergence of media in the workplace – public presentation, DEFSA 1999 – Design Fusion: The development of design beyond 2000, Johannesburg 1997
The Virtual Harvester – public presentation, SIGGRAPH 97 Art & Design Sketches, Los Angeles, USA
The Virtual Harvester – public presentation, Postgraduate Programme in New Media, MEDIA-GN, Groningen, The Netherlands

Education

2015  – MultiCam, Inc. Specialized EnRoute with Operator Training Dallas, Texas, United States of America
2013  – Autodesk Inventor, Inventor Advanced Part Modelling Course, Modena Design Centres, Cape Town, South Africa (SA)
2012  – Exchange project on prototyping methods and design materials, David Cuartillies' Arduino course, Malmo University, School of Arts and Communication, Sweden
2002  – Macromedia Dreamweaver Course, Hirt and Carter (Cape), Cape Town, SA
2002  – Macromedia Flash Course, Concept Interactive, Cape Town, SA
1997  – Alias/Wavefront – Level 2 Animation Course, Silicon Graphics Computer System, Johannesburg, SA
1997  – Master of Fine Art, Frank Mohr Instituut, (previously Media-GN & SCAN), Academie Minerva, Hanze University for Professional Education, Groningen, The Netherlands
1994  – Multimedia Course, Hirt and Carter Graphics, Cape Town, SA
1994  – Master of Fine Art, University of Cape Town, SA
1990  – Bachelor of Fine Art, University of Pretoria, SA

Work experience

2012 to present, Associate Professor, Fine Art (Sculpture), Michaelis School of Fine Art (Michaelis), University of Cape Town (UCT), Cape Town, South Africa (SA)
2007 to 2011 – Senior Lecturer, Fine Art (New Media), Michaelis, UCT, Cape Town, SA
2001 to 2006 – Lecturer, Fine Art (New Media), Michaelis, UCT, Cape Town, SA
1999 to 2001 – Senior Lecturer, Fine Art (Multimedia), Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, University of Johannesburg (previously Technikon Witwatersrand), Johannesburg, SA
1998 to 1999 – Creative Director, SHiFT Interactive Communication, Johannesburg, SA
1997 to 1998 – 3D Computer Animator, DELAPSE – broadcast design / motion graphics, Johannesburg, SA
1995 – Creative Director, Coca-Cola Dome, HAPTICS, Johannesburg, SA
1995 – 3D Computer Animator, Hassall House, multimedia productions, Johannesburg, SA
1992 to 1994  – Assistant to sculptor David Brown; worked on commission and erection of sculpture for Mr. Charles Diamond, Henley on Thames, United Kingdom, Cape Town / Henley UK
1989 to 1990 – Assistant photographer, Graeme Bridger Photography, Pretoria, SA
1988 to 1989  – Editor of Rag Magazine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, SA
1988 – Assistant to sculptor Ettiene de Kock, Pretoria, SA
1988 – Third man, steel smelting ISCOR (now ArcelorMittal), Vanderbijlpark, SA
1987 – Marketing portfolio, Rag Committee, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, SA

Postgraduate Student Supervision

13. Chambers, K. 2025, MFA
12. Friess, C. 2022, MFA
11. Raath, P. MFA, 2017
10. Le Riche, P. 2017, MFA
9. Guald, Q. MFA 2015
8. Mbikayi, M. 2015, MFA
7. Jenks, P. 2012, MFA
6. Ginsburg, J. 2011, MFA
5. Scadden, D. 2010, MFA
4. Maggs, C. 2006, MFA
3. Kasibe, W. 2006, MFA
2. Verwey, A. 2005. Mute articulations representing the body when the self isn't what it used to be. University of Cape Town. Available: https://open.uct.ac.za/items/303417fe-7789-49c3-bace-20eededcbc4d [2025, 27 October]
1. Grobler, N. 2004. The enigma machine: unravelling the domestic experience. University of Cape Town. Available: https://open.uct.ac.za/items/db8a0b8b-df22-4587-a967-937db0ff8004 [2025, 27 October]