In a world bounded by climate anxiety caused by rising sea levels and warm planets, it is not out of reach to imagine a life surrounded by blue oceans. For Werner Bronkhorst, this overwhelming nature of the potential future inspired a series of mixed media works that found tiny characters in a wide range of expansions.
Broncost’s new work, SailingIn Dellaposa’s observations, visualize the lonely protagonist while trekking to the beach or surfing on seemingly endless tides. Thick thick bottomed strokes provide an abstract background for each piece with different shades of blue and minimize already small characters. The artist shared: “I poured a layer of gel and waited for the landscape to appear – mountains, waves, ice. Only then did I add the numbers.”
“Mockney” (2025), prints archive pigments on heavyweight 395GSM canvas, hand-stretched on FSC certified, finger-fusion New Zealand pine tree, and is flanked with FSC certified Meranti frame with painted white finish, 33×43 cm, 33×43 cm, version, version 69 cm, version
Given their rare communication with other humans, Broncost’s subjects also seem to embody the separation and disconnection of the post-digital world. Like fragments seen from a distance, these numbers emerge from their gesture environments, as if at low resolution, their unique features are impossible to distinguish.
Bronkhorst grew up in Pretoria, South Africa and now lives and works in Australia. You can find more of his practice on Instagram.
“Sail Leave” (2025), print archive pigments on heavyweight 395 GSM canvas, hand stretched on FSC certified, finger-fused New Zealand pine trees, and flanked with FSC certified Meranti frame with painted white finish, 33×43 cm, 33×43 cm, version, version 69 cm, versionDetails of “Sail Leave” (2025), Archives Printed on Heavyweight 395 GSM Canvas, Hand-stretched on FSC certified, Finger-bound New Zealand Pine, FSC certified Meranti Frame, White Finished with Paint, 33×43 Center, 33×43 CentDetails of “Mockney” (2025), archival pigment prints on heavyweight 395GSM canvas, hand-stretched on FSC certified, finger-bound New Zealand pine tree, FSC certified Meranti frame with painted white finish, 33×43 Center, 33×43 Center of 69Details of “Blue Water High” (2025), Heavyweight 395GSM Matte Canson Infinity Phototart Procanvas, made with the long-lasting Epson Archival Inks, 100×100 centers framed, 69 edition,“Blue Water High” (2025), heavyweight 395GSM matte Cansen Infinity Phototart Procanvas, made with long-lasting Epson Archival Inks, 100×100cm frame, version 69,“Diamond Sea” (2025), archival pigment print on heavyweight 395gsm matte Canson Infinity PhotoArt ProCanvas, made with long-lasting Epson archive inks, hand-stretched over FSC-certified, fingerprint-joined New Zealand pine, and float framed in FSC-certified Meranti with a painted white finish, signed by the artist, 100× 100 centimeters framed, edition of 69“Walking on the Water” (2025), Archive Pigment Printing on Heavyweight 395GSM Matte Cansen Infinity Photoart Procanvas Made of Long-lasting Epson Archival Inks, 33×43 CentyerDetails of “Sea of Diamonds” (2025), Archives pigment printing on heavyweight 395GSM Matte Cansen Infinity Photoelectric Painting, made by hand with long lasting Epson Archives, hand-undressed on FSC certified, finger-fusion New Zealand Pine, FSC certified New Zealand Pine and FSC certified Meranti are decorated with white plastered with Arting Artistiim, which is drawn. 69
