Marc Alexander’s Monika Pon, Oil and Gold Leaf on Canvas, 60cm by 50cm. (2012) – Monika Pon was just a teenager when she met self-taught artist Vladimir Tretchikoff. His painting of her, ‘CHINESE GIRL’, is believed to be one of the bestselling commercial prints ever and has turned her into one of the most enduring cultural totems of the 20th century. I found a beautiful image of an older Monika in a recent magazine and decided there and then to do a retake of this classic portrait.
Marc Alexander was born in Pretoria, South Africa in 1972. He now lives and works with his wife and four children in Cape Town. He is best known for his focus on South African heritage and icons such as his many portraits of late President Nelson Mandela.
Marc’s portraits are so lifelike that they are often viewed with amazement, especially by those who had known Mr Mandela personally. Marc’s limited edition prints of these portraits are being snatched up by admirers and collectors from all over the world, including the likes of Mandela’s dear friend and former American president Bill Clinton. More recently, the Presidency of South Africa purchased prints from Marc, as gifts for all the dignitaries who attended President Jacob Zuma’s 2014 inauguration.
Alexander exhibits locally in South Africa where he is considered one of the countries emerging investment artists, and abroad with a substantial international following of collectors.
After a sojourn in charity work and helping street waifs, Marc re-embarked on a fulltime career as an artist and freelance exhibitions curator.
His interest in art started when as a young child, he discovered an ability to replicate on canvas with accuracy what he saw in nature. In December 1994 he started a seven year career at the Pretoria Art Museum and within two weeks began a reproduction of a 17th Century Dutch Master’s painting. Since that time he has made near perfect replicas of some great pieces. It was also during this time that he started a work amongst orphans and vulnerable street children, using art as a medium for healing. This turned into a very successful not-for-profit organization called ‘The Tshwane Art Kids’ which brought healing and restoration to many African children.
Marc works mostly in oils in the style of the traditional realist, but he also enjoys combining the art of gilding and texturing in his paintings. He prefers to paint recognizable objects or elements that can be observed in nature and he aims always to capture and express subjects and themes about our world and the human condition, especially those things that cause us great joy or great sorrow.