Harris Steinman, a self-taught-photographer, has been involved in photography since the age of 15. This was supplemented with a course at the Ruth Prowse Arts Centre with tutors such as Alain Proust and Anthony Johnston. Growing up in a quiet rural farming environment, he qualified with a science background at the University of Cape Town, immersing him into the “noisy” world of science, people, and cities, resulting in a considerable influence on his visual interpretation of his surroundings.
Initially working with black and white film, he made a transition to colour slide film and then to digital medium over a period of 30 years. A book of a selection of his nature images of Kirstenbosch was published in 2005 (Kirstenbosch, Images Beyond Words – Briza Press). Auxiliary studies at the Cape Town School of Photography and Master classes under the tutelage of Jenny Altschuler, has contributed to his development.
His recent themes include roadside commemoration memorials and landscapes of lesser known country areas around the Western Cape, described by other artists as “iconic South African landscapes”.
His work was exhibited in the South African National Museum in October 2012. His recent work has been exhibited as with Heritage: Constructions and Abstractions at Youngbloods Art & Culture Development Centre, Cape Town, South Africa - a culminatory showcase of work created during the 4 month Heritage Masterclass by 9 interdisciplinary image makers under the mentorship of Jenny Altschuler, under the auspices of the South African Centre for Photography.
Exhibitions
Exhibitions 1977 and 1989
Exhibition Cape Town School of Photography March 2010 ‘Unseen’ - Group exhibition MOP5 (Month of Photography). SA Museum, Cape Town. 1 November 2012 – 15 October 2012.
The Noble-Photo Auction. February 2013
‘Figments’ – Group exhibition Youngbloods Arts & Development, 70-72 Bree Street, Cape Town. 22 September – 15 October 2013
“Muse” – Group exhibition. Casa Labia, Muizenberg 10th December 2013 – 23rd February 2014
“Light and Memory” – Group exhibition. ANT Gallery. Seattle, USA. 1st March-30th March 2014.
‘Figments’ – Solo exhibtion AVA, Church Street, Cape Town. 15th April – 8th May 2014
“Seeking Eden – In Bloom III. Casa Labia, Muizenberg. 10th December 2014 to 22nd February 2015.
Themes – Solo Exhibition. Amplify Studio. Loop Street, Cape Town. January 2016.
Image loan requests:
• ARKive - “Images of life on earth - Films, photographs and audio recordings of the world’s animals, plants and fungi are being gathered into one centralised digital library.” www.arkive.org
• Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) website for “Water for Agriculture and Energy in Africa: the Challenges of Climate Change”. http://www.sirtewaterandenergy.org/