"I had the most idyllic childhood on a farm in Bethlehem, surrounded by both sets of grandparents, my mum's exquisite gardens, pets, chickens and sheep. I was privileged to grow up in constant close contact with my grandparents - each of them was a mentor and voice of inspiration in my life."
He recalls playing house and, as a teenager, visiting old dilapidated buildings to visualise how he would restore and transform them.
"I also sketched and painted as I was continually inspired by both the people around me and my surroundings. My mum dressed beautifully, was a great chef, did needlework, knitted, loved gardening, arranged flowers, while my dad could make anything with steel and could build as well. Both my grandmothers did stunning crochet work. Oupa John had horses and Oupa Daan was the cattle farmer. In this way I learned from a very early age to try my hand at many different things."
In high school Ferreira began to take art classes and this led to him deciding to study art, specialising in graphic printing. Whilst studying for his Higher Diploma in Art, he tutored in art history at the Free State Technikon. During his studies, his works were selected for the annual students' exhibitions and he twice received the award for the best fine arts photographic student. Ferreira has been a finalist in the ABSA L'Atelier Art Awards and Momentum Life Art Awards.
His work was also selected to form part of Stephan Hundt's Free State Artists exhibition at the Grahamstown Arts Festival.
From 1995 he worked in Bloemfontein as a freelance artist and at that time began his floral work. From 1996 and for the next four years, Ferreira worked as a floral designer in London and travelled widely. In London he did floral work at places such as The Tate Gallery, National History Museum
and various other prestigious institutions and for many famous people including members of the Royal family.
In 2001, Ferreira returned to South Africa and settled in Knysna. After working for a short while as a graphic designer, he began his own business, Natural Floral Design. This grew into Ecozest after Ferreira and his partner, Hannes Stander, combined their skills.
Painting and 'art-making', admits Ferreira, is a growing passion and continuous transformation for him.
Everyday Findings
His current joint exhibition at Knysna Fine Art Gallery is entitled Everyday Findings.
"These paintings are a poetic interpretation of observations, experiences or emotionally charged sensory impulses informed by the world around me - a rich tapestry made up of the natural environment in which I live, the awareness of life around me, the knowledge and wonder found in books, art history, mythology, spirituality and symbo-lism and how all of this is filtered and merged into my inner life and imagination," explains Ferreira.
The artworks are created in such a way to convey an atmosphere or mood that imprints on a visceral level. Unique dialogues are created by juxtaposing seemingly disparate imagery to open up various interpretations.
Animals are archetypal symbols referring to various qualities like strength or have various symbolic meanings throughout history from very early days.
"I sense a strong connection with animals that is at once grounding and supernatural. They can be reflections of our relationship with animals and the natural world, of our bond with nature. They may refer to the recognition of ourselves in the life and soul of all that surrounds us."
DP Ferreira's exhibition is at Knysna Fine Art Gallery at 6 Long Street, Knysna, in conjunction with that of Jill Trappler until Friday, December 14. For more information contact the gallery at 044 382 5107.
In 'The Melancholy of Wind' there is an intriguing connection beween the wolf image and the composite flower image, explains artist DP Ferreira. "Wind carries scent and scent triggers memories. Certain smells remind us of childhood, of significant moments or of people in one's life."
