"Dikbek" Byron Fredericks Original Painting
Dikbek “Grumpy, in a huff (literally: “thick mouth” (pout),” 2022
Acrylic and oil stick on paper, custom framed
8 x 11 in / 26 x 33 cm
Byron Mark Fredericks’ (b.1992) latest body of work, Van Die Kaap Af, Jy. Fredericks presents a body of work that consists of ceramic objects and paintings. The series of artworks aims to connect the dots between the meaning and the power behind the language. The phrases don’t directly translate to English; when you do, the intrinsic value is lost. This is the area that Fredericks explores and draws his attention to. This is the area that Fredericks explores and draws his attention to. Fredericks explores the ambiguity behind cape-colored phrases such as, “Tjommie”, “Dikbek” and “Toppie”. Fredericks is intrigued by the improvisation and creation of these phrases and their existence. This is where he centralizes his focus around the celebration of why cape-colored culture is unique to the visual landscape of South Africa.
