With his heart in the bushveld at Londolozi Game Reserve, Simon Max Bannister (1982) has endeavoured for many years to create wildlife sculpture. After a successful show for the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation working with timber, he found representation at Rountree Tryon Galleries in London. In South Africa, he has now turned his hand to bronze. With Nic Bladen as an inspiration in his passion for endangered plant species and a partial mentor to Simon in his unique casting process, Simon’s distinctive language and direction have emerged in a studio space he shares with Dylan Lewis and several other sculptors in Simonstown.While keeping a diversity in materials, his language is unique, passionate and self-taught. He has realized multiple private commissions, works for wine estates, game reserves and educational facilities. His passion for the environment has also inspired an immersive collaborative workshop of land art walks. Bannister has participated in events such as Infecting the City, Site_Specific, AfrikaBurn, The South African National Arts Festival and was recently awarded Wildlife Artist of the year by the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

 

Recent Interview with Simon and SA Tourism

BIO – Timeline

2011

Trans Atlantic ‘ 5 Gyres Plastic Research Expedition’ Residency – January

‘Plastikos’  Cape Town 2 Oceans Aquarium – February

‘Reflection Synthetic’ Exhibition Grahamstown National Arts Festival – July

Franschoek Private Commission – August

‘Water, the [Delicate] Thread of Life, Standard Bank Gallery – October

Durban COP17 COPART Climate Train – November

2012

Tankwa Karoo “Solace” AfrikaBurn – April

Kranshoek Private Commission – August

Plettenberg Bay Site_Specific – August

‘Ek-Duo’ Exhibition Cape Town GIPCA  – September

2013

Kranshoek Private Commission – January

Tankwa Karoo “Compression” AfrikaBurn – April

London David Shepherd Foundation Wildlife Artist of the Year – May

Waterberg Residency – June

Kruger Park Mjejane Private Commission – July

Johannesburg Art Fair, Journey Series, – July

Kranshoek Private Commission – August

Londolozi Private Commission – September

Port Alfred Residency – October

Cape Town, Mana Bay, Private Commission – November

Nelspruit, Journey Series, Infecting the City – December

2014

Lapland Sebbatical – January

Londolozi Residency – February

Franschoek, Boekenhoutskloof Private Commission – March

Londolozi Residency – April

Tankwa Karoo “The Offering” AfrikaBurn – May

Hermanus Fynarts Festival – June

Simonstown Bronze Age Studio – June

London – Wild Uncovered Collaborative Exhibition – Oct

2015

Rajastan, India, Jawai Private Commission – January

Simonstown Bronze Age Studio – February / November