Interview with Jaco Roeloffs
I am a Dutch South African sculptor based in Brisbane, Australia. I work with modern materials and technology to show the beauty of our planet.
Design Legend Interview
23 April 2020
I am mainly self taught. I am very curious and love reading about new technology nature etc. Before the internet I had hundreds of National Geographic books and that was my visual encyclopedia. Through that I was inspired by all the natural forms and colours. It also drew me to study uncommon shapes.
I would like to design houses, but I know you have to be a qualified architect. Its more that I like architecture, it inspires me.
About 1 month.
With the story and the stakeholders.
I use it for putting ideas and shapes into context. Everything doesnt always start with a sketch for me.
Normal photo editing and CAD software
Like most artists I am very cautious of colour. Colour is so powerful.
How can that inspire or influence me.
Sometimes. I do like working with others, it helps me challenge what I am thinking. I have noticed it helps me find other ideas during conversations.
Not really I just loved being outside on our farms scrapyard. Making things with all the excess pipes, tubes, steel parts etc.
Designer Interview
24 April 2020
I am an emerging artist. I started in 2018 as a sculptor. I work with a russian design engineer to help me bring some of the complex manufacturing to life.
Work that links to a story or a human behaviour.
Late mornings
Innocent, idealistic.
I live in Brisbane, Australia. I was born and raised in rural South Africa. My early adult years I spent in The Netherlands. All of these places influenced me to become who I am today.
Learn to let your imagination go and just dont judge where it goes straight away.
Positives are seeing my work appreciated and resonate with people.
Trust your instincts and follow through with your ideas. Don't let them die in your head.
Adobe, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. Also Inventor and Solidworks for 3D and manufacturing drawings.
IT is difficult as I have to be flexible with school age children while I work from home.
At this stage of my career most of my projects take average 3 months to complete.
How do you come up with these ideas?
Mainly school looking for unique and meaningful monumental artworks that resonate with all stakeholders.
Large sculptural installations that is bold and challenging. Regardless of materials needed, I use what I need to in order to get the desired effect.
I am working on a commission for a school that captures the flight path of a falling seed.
Conceptual work is done by me. Technical design and engineering I do with Andrew Strelnikov.
Currently I have a work in progress that is a response to the destruction of my first major sculpture called "Sandberg". The sculpture was destroyed by the bushfires in Australia in 2019.
Via email through hello@jacoroeloffs.com