Prolific and internationally esteemed South African artist Mark Hipper, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home in Grahamstown last Wednesday*, aged forty-nine.
Hipper, a senior lecturer at Rhodes University’s Fine Art Department was on sabbatical and preparing for a new exhibition entitled “Doppelgänger/Double” to be held at the Erdmann Contemporary this September in Cape Town.
In July this year selected works from over two decades of his career were accessioned into Erdmann Contemporary holdings, signalling the beginning of a new era. The collection encompasses works on paper, large paintings on board and canvas and watercolours.
At the time of his death Hipper was concluding a new series of work comprising of three large canvas paintings and several smaller canvases for “Doppelgänger/Double”.
He exhibited extensively both internationally and in South Africa and his work is represented in numerous important collections both locally and abroad. His fidelity to great art forced him to confront the tired, hackneyed ruses of representation by investigating ways of luring the viewer into confronting the ambiguity of images in contemporary society. In eschewing representational art, and yet embracing the figure as the truth of art, Hipper was often misconstrued as courting controversy for controversy’s sake.
Hipper had a boundless interest in all forms of expression and he actively sought out friendships and collaborations with a diverse grouping of people. His reserved demeanour, intelligence and generosity of spirit benefited all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Mark Hipper was much loved as a kind, thoughtful, generous teacher and friend. He is survived by his mother Nena, sister Marie-Louise, brother Gerd, his nieces Thandiwe and Caitlin, and nephew Matthias.
A memorial service will be held in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape this Wednesday, 18 August, 3pm at the Rhodes University Chapel.
[* A medical report on the exact time of Hipper’s passing is pending at time of writing.]