Conrad Botes

Conrad Botes (b. 1969, Western Cape, South Africa) is a multidisciplinary visual artist and a pivotal figure in the South African Post-Pop movement. Growing up in a Department of Water Affairs prefab house on the edge of the Theewaterskloof Dam, his unique upbringing has deeply influenced his artistic vision. His father, a local schoolteacher, and the colorful characters of his childhood world have shaped his ability to critically examine and satirize Afrikaanerdom and South African culture.

Together with Anton Kannemeyer, Botes co-founded Bitterkomix, a provocative publication that challenges societal norms through its rude, cutting humour. Bitterkomix has become a national institution and was notably the first publication banned in post-apartheid South Africa.

Botes' artistic practice extends beyond comics to include monoprints, silkscreens, lithographs, and other works on paper. His art often features atavistic males and females, including the 'tortured soul' and the femme fatale, mocking conventional notions of individualism and humanism. He uses Post-Pop's preference for 'sugary infantilism' to reflect on contemporary society where religion is irreverent, violence is desirable, and sadism is institutionalized. His work merges pastoral elements with contemporary realities: flowers as wounds, birds as harbingers of doom, and detached hands symbolizing creativity.

Botes' paintings are more personal, inviting viewers to formulate their own interpretations and emotional responses. His work has been described as giving a bittersweet edge to Post-Pop sentimentality, creating a powerful visual commentary on modern existential crises.