Our purpose
·The press.on creative collaborators group was established in 2025 as an evolution from the press.on Print Club. The print club was formed in 2023 as a small, online community of professional, mid-career South African artist/printmakers who continually produce high quality original prints.
As the press.on creative collaborators group, we have extended our oeuvre to include 2-dimensional works in any medium. Now, our membership comprises just members of Johann's original Drukbesig group who worked in his studio before his relocation to Scotland, and who share a close connection and commitment to the group.
Our goal is to build our exhibiting presence, to build the creative collaborative output of the club through group initiatives, as well as to support each others' endeavours as individual artists.
Our aim
To establish and facilitate exhibiting opportunities. This includes organising press.on creative collaborators group shows at respected fine art outlets.
We will co-ordinate collaborative projects proposed by individual members.
We will remain in close contact and share our news, experiences, opportunities, and resources.
To date, we have organised four projects for 2026.
Although the press.on creative collaborators group is fully democratic, our admin team members are Johann Booyens, Mandy Conidaris, and Laurel Holmes.
Co-founders’ statements
Johann Booyens
Part time teaching
at various art centres has allowed me to share knowledge and collaborate with
artists of all age groups. This has led to my keen interest in exploring ideas
and making processes. I believe that no one can solve all problems single-handedly,
so I rely on other practitioners for insight and feedback, as well as for
sharing techniques and practices of execution.
One of my purposes
for starting up press.on in 2023 was to develop a community of South
African artists who have the same wish to share their knowledge and
understanding of the UK and SA art worlds.
Mandy Conidaris
Having taught part time for many years, as
well as operated within the broader art arena, I am a big believer in sharing my
experience and knowledge, whether technical and curatorial, or just passing on
contacts and making connections.
My wish with press.on is that Johann and I can
foster and enable our community of artists wishing to build their individual careers. After a few 'false starts', we have decided to shrink the group to comprise only members of Johann's original Drukbesig group.