Jonathan Freemantle
Website: http://Jonathanfreemantle.com
Instagram: @jonathanfreemantle
Jonathan Freemantle was born in Cape Town in 1978. At 17, he was selected as one of the five students from around the world to study at St Oswald’s Academy in London, an intensive 5 year traditional training/ apprenticeship in drawing, painting and sculpture and geometry. Jonathan has since been involved in a number of projects. He has held solo exhibitions worldwide (London, Cape Town, Amsterdam & Edinburgh). In 2002 he set up and directed the painting department of The Art Academy in London. His work has been featured in a variety of publications in Europe, South Africa and in the UK. He wrote and illustrated a book, ‘Anatomy made simple for Artists’ published by Arcturus (UK) in 2004. His work is represented in collections worldwide including SAB Miller and the private collection of HRH the Prince of Wales. Jonathan is also co-founder (with Director, Anna Freemantle) of the Edinburgh International Fashion Festival, launched to much acclaim in August 2012. For the EIFF Jonathan has curated numerous exhibitions, working with the likes of Juergen Teller, Rankin, Pam Hogg, Hussein Chalayan, Ryan McGinley, Amanda Harlech, Sissel Toolas and Helena Christensen amongst others. In March 2015 Jonathan co-founded HAZARD gallery alongside co-director, Daniel Liebmann in Johannesburg's Maboneng District. HAZARD redeveloped the historical ‘Cosmopolitan Hotel’, also in Maboneng which was home to the gallery from 2016 - 2018. During his 5 year sabbatical in Johannesburg, Jonathan staged three solo exhibitions with Gallery MOMO, was commissioned to make a large installation for the Standard Bank Gallery and completed a residency at the Nirox Foundation. Jonathan moved back to Edinburgh in 2019 where he continues to practice as an artist.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?: The ability to make new paintings, to climb mountains and to be close to my beautiful family.
Which living person do you most admire?: Anna Freemantle
What is your greatest extravagance?: And endless supply of Egyptian cotton socks.
What is your current state of mind?: Deeply connected with nature.
What do you consider the most overrated virtue?: Hard to answer this one. But I think we give too much cadence to power, and wealth.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?: Yes. Absolutely. Wonderful. Brother.
Which talent would you most like to have?: I would love to be able to play the piano competently.
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?: I’d listen more.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?: Finding a way to be able to communicate an inner language to the world.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?:
Where would you most like to live?: I’m currently feeling pulled to the Swiss Alps.
What is your most treasured possession?: An old - possibly 100yrs old - foldable easel given to me by my father when I first left Cape Town for London to study art. He restored it lovingly and I’ve used it regularly ever since. I love it.
What is your favorite occupation?: Well I’m probably biased but I feel very blessed to wake up every morning and make paintings.
What do you most value in your friends?: The shared moments of joy and madness and sorrow and wildness all compounded into a kind of consistent thread that keeps going and growing and yet never changes in spirit.
Who are your favorite writers?: Laurens Van Der Post, John Fowles, Donna Tartt, Nan Shepherd, Robert MacFarlane, Earnest Hemingway
Which historical figure do you most identify with?: Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Zorba the Greek
What is it that you most dislike?: Selfishness