Imagine starting doodling at the age of seven, then, later on, gradually honing your skills throughout high school, only to see yourself overseas, pursuing your artistic studies further.
Fourth-year fine arts student Shui Hoppenstein, from the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has always been passionate about his form of art, expressing that his desire was to dive deeper into the art world through formal education. He firmly believes in pursuing one’s passion, stating: “I really wanted to study fine arts. To know more about the art world and chase my dream.”
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He recently saw his studies soar. As part of a student exchange programme, he spent three months at the Hungarian University of Fine Arts in Budapest, in the graphic arts department. “There, I learned new printmaking techniques, including stone lithography, while continuing to develop my skills in etching and drawing.”
Hoppenstein was one of two students sent to Hungary, helping to establish a relationship between the two universities. He saw the experience as a rich approach on how to look at art on that side of the globe.
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He added that he cherished the opportunity to connect with fellow students from Hungary, appreciating the warm environment and collaborative spirit.
Being an art student, Hoppenstein is very aware of the challenges that come with it, the same as other aspiring fine artists in South Africa. Yet he remains steadfast in his mission to his art. His third-year body of work centred on the challenges between old age and youth. Exploring how his generation often overlooks the inevitability of aging. “For my research, I visited the Deutsches Altersheim, interviewing many residents about their experiences, their aging, their families, and their worldviews,” he explained.
His interviewees included Ingrid Sommer and Imme Buttgen, both of whom offered valuable wisdom into the aging process. “I also created a ten-metre artwork, inspired by one of the residents, which was displayed in the café living area of the home, before being hung in the atrium of UJ’s Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture last year.”
Hoppenstein draws on various life experiences. His work on aging stemmed from reflections on his own grandparents. “I realised I do not give them as much time as I should, and I often think about how I, too, will age one day.”
This year, Hoppenstein is focused on familial relationships, particularly how expectations are placed on individuals by their parents, and how people often drift away from their roles, to make their own paths in the world.
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