The Art of Advent: Day Eighteen

By Jesse Anderson

It’s the 18th day of our Art of Advent calendar, and today I’d like to share an Australia-based artist who perfectly captures the snowy-wonder of wintertime. Werner Bronkhorst’s White Stripes collection never fails to get me in the festive move, even though Christmas in Australia is anything but snowy.

Bronkhorst uses an ‘abstract sculptural background’ on which he paints tiny, realistic people, who, in the White Stripes collection, engage in wintery activities such as skiing. Among my favourite in the collection are the ski-slope pieces: little, colourful people are sprinkled upon the canvas, merrily making their way down the expansive slope Bronkhorst has created. The bright pinks, reds, and blues of winter coats pop from the white canvas, leading the eye from person to person. The minute detail of Bronkhorst’s figures reminds me of the intricacy of frosting on a gingerbread house: each figure is engaged in their own task, whether that be gliding gracefully down the slope, or carefully progressing with knees bent and arms out, as a beginner. The diversity of people on the ski slope makes viewing this piece something of a game, we look across each individual figure as if looking in on a miniature world.

Bronkhorst’s White Stripes collection also captures something of the frivolity of Christmas, even unintentionally. He turns people, and their wintery activities, into figurines playing on the canvas. Bronkhorst encourages our curiosity, inviting us into the work to enjoy the detail of each individual person. A sense of play is also encourage as we look from figure to figure, maybe pointing out our favourites, almost like a game of ‘Where’s Wally?’. The fun nature of Bronkhorst’s White Stripes collection always seems relevant in wintertime. Doubtless, this year I’ll be going home with this collection as a talking point for the Christmas dinner table.