Since his childhood, Tyrone Appollis has been painting about the poor fisher folk’s struggle. He romanticises their fight for survival along the coasts of the Western Cape.
He painted scenes from harbours from Kalk Bay to Gansbaai. His work showcases the struggle of fishermen over the years. They faced the draconian quota system. The fishermen’s world-famous sea cottages were taken over by rich people as their replacements.
“For years, the fishermen fished the holy, sweet waters running alongside their world-famous sea cottages on our coasts. In my paintings, I am depicting these scenes. This shows how they were so cruelly moved to other areas. Meanwhile, the rich folk’s taste for gentrification took over their sea cottages,” he says.
He still believes the quota system is terrible. Fishermen struggle to make ends meet with the quota allocated to them.
“Besides painting, I also draw sketches. I write poems about the working class and the vessels in Kalk Bay. Other harbours are also part of my happy hunting grounds. In my childhood I used to call it my throw-away paintings, drawings, and poems. Recently, I added songs of Kalk Bay and Gansbaai. Kalk Bay is the lovely thorn in my little car’s front tyres. As I always say ‘tank you’, my little car isn’t ‘tank full’. This meant I scored mileage from or for Kalk Bay,” Appollis says who resides in Vanguard Estate.
He has entered a few art competitions without any success and in hindsight he was a good loser.
“Not winning competitions strengthened my resolve. It pushed me to achieve greater heights in my work as a painter, poet, singer, and songwriter. I take comfort in knowing this: some of the world’s most esteemed thinkers have never won a Grammy. Esteemed musicians, artists, and painters also have not received this award. They also have never won an Oscar award. Vincent van Gogh, Bessie Head, Bob Marley, and Steve Biko come to mind. In my heart, they stand out as the most enduring spirits,” he says.
Appollis acknowledges almost all the South African artists through the years. They have touched his soul indelibly. He believes they are all equal to creations in the world.
Stefan Hundt, curator of the Sanlam Art Collection in Bellville, recently challenged him. He was asked to paint about ”Viswinkels Vannie Kaap”.
“Initially I didn’t say a word but am now taking up the challenge. I’ve written poems on ‘Kalkys fish and crispy cheaps.’ I will put brush to paint to make the challenge a reality. Local is lekker. When you visit these small harbours, you can be sure there will be fish and chips. You’ll also find dried snoek, harders, or fresh fish from the sea. I’ve painted about these harbors. Monist others are Paternoster, Saldanha, Hermanus, Yzerfontein, Gordons Bay and Struisbaai. This theme hasn’t dried up my pores of awakening,” he says.
