Ya-Ya Café Buffalo born in old wine cellar
A huge buffalo has taken his place in front of Ya-Yah Café at the bottom end of Dorp Street.
This magnificent sculpture is the brainchild of Hugh Frost, renowned graphic designer, fine arts sculptor, and photographer Hugh Frost.
Born and bred in Kuilsriver, Hugh attended Mikro Primary and then went on to matriculated at Somerset College in 2008. He then joined the Animation School from 2009 to 2011, The Open Window institute for three years from 2013 to -2016, majoring in graphic design and photography.
He worked as a photographic assistant in Johannesburg while finishing his photography degree and then moved back to Cape Town in 2017 and worked in the film industry in Cape Town until 2020.
“My father passed away just before Covid from cancer, and I have moved back home to live with my mom on our small holding next to Zevenwacht Wine Estate. This buffalo we made for Ya-Ya is dedicated to him. I have only been a full-time sculptor since July 2022,” he explained.
“In junior school we made clay sculptures, but in Somerset College I took art as a major and specifically chose sculpting as my main media as I had a natural talent for it, more so than compared to painting and drawing. My teacher at the time, Stephen Rautenbach, was a big part of my influence. Dylan Lewis and a British sculptor with the name Nick Bibby also had a great influence on my sculpting career so far.
“I don’t recall but the first animal I sculptured might have been a rabbit out of clay. The first significant sculpture that I made was when I was in grade 11, so older than 16. I’ve been fascinated by the human form, inherently drawn to it in all aspects. “
Hugh prefers realism and feels one must master realism before entering abstraction. He is open to both and said that if he gets famous, he will venture more abstract sculptures.
“I work either in Wax or in plasteline, an oil based synthetic clay. Once I have sculpted the piece by hand, I take it to the foundry where a mould gets pulled and limited-edition bronzes will be cast using the lost wax process. To make this sculpture of the buffalo, it took me about 2500 hours, sculpting day in and day out for a very long time.
“I use 3 different foundries In Cape Town, Cape Bronze at Klein Joostenberg, then the Lost Wax Foundry and Sculpture Casting Services in Strand and in Gauteng I have used the famous Vignali brothers in Pretoria North and Danie Nell in Bronkhorstspruit. I work from home and the current Yoga series I have sculpted in my room at my desk. I am moving to an old wine tasting room soon and will then be happy to accommodate studio visits. The buffalo was created in the old wine cellar.”
The reason for placing the buffalo in Dorp Street at Ya-Ya Cafe was a natural one he says.
“I am an artist and I need exhibit space and exposure and I could not think of a better spot than that to get exposure. It’s in memory of my late father and I am busy finalising my rationale around the piece but will include the following – Humility, prosperity, bravery, resilience and overcoming adversity. The buffalo embodies the qualities that my father possessed – fortitude.
“The buffalo is a powerful symbol of strength, resilience, and overcoming adversity. I have chosen to dedicate this piece to my late father, who was a source of strength and inspiration to me. The buffalo embodies the qualities that my father possessed – fortitude, perseverance, and the ability to weather any storm. Through this sculpture, I honour his memory and pay tribute to his legacy. By channelling the energy of the buffalo, I imbue my work with a sense of power and determination, reminding us of all the need to remain steadfast in the face of challenges and adversity. I hope that my father’s kindness continues to inspire me and those who encounter ‘Black Death’.
“I relate quite heavily to the buffalo, more so than I initially thought, overcoming adversity, and carrying on is what I am about. It is easy to wilt in the face of adversity,” he explained.
For now, it is his only piece in Stellenbosch, but he is definitely planning more as the projects are resource intensive on all fronts to produce.
“Getting permission – I’ve had to build a relationship with Dimitri for more than 2 years as they own the block, but I am looking for more exhibit space and gallery representation and potentially funding as well. Ya-Ya is my first and only significant installation for now. The ideal goal is to have a sculpture park in nature. I would ideally like to have a relatively equal share of status, money, and recognition as an artist in the next 5-10 years.”
stunning wish you well