Prelude to Podlashuc
Timed Online Auction, 31 January - 17 February 2025
Prelude to Podlashuc: A Glimpse into the Creative World of Alexander Podlashuc
About the SessionThis curated selection of works by Alexander Podlashuc highlights his sharp observations of industry, Cape Town’s cityscapes, and everyday still lifes. His background in graphic arts and British Modernism shaped a style that blends bold composition with incisive social commentary. Podlashuc’s work captures South Africa’s shifting landscapes—both physical and political—through industrial scenes, harbours, and domestic settings. Each lot in this sale is thoughtfully narrated by the artist’s son, Leopold, who provides insight into the personal and historical contexts that shaped his father’s vision. His reflections reveal the depth behind Podlashuc’s uniquely personal style. Above all, this collection celebrates an artist whose silenced voice continues to echo powerfully throughout South Africa’s art community.
About this Item
signed and dated 1970
Notes
‘The Group Areas Act was a lie that promised a better world but only destroyed. By 1965 South End was in ruins and its people scattered. Here a forlorn waif stands upon the torn floorboards of a church. Psalm 52:2 confronts the destroyer with their lie: “You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor”.’—Leopold Podlashuc, 2025.
Provenance
The Podlashuc Collection.