MARIAAN LAUBSCHER

Mariaan Laubscher studied Graphic Design in Cape Town, South Africa (1983 – 86) in the last cohort of students before computers were introduced.
She worked in the rag trade and for the Cape Performing Arts Board for 10 years, continuously improving her skills before opening her own company in 1993. Since moving to Seychelles in 2001 she has established the company locally with a varied client base.
Glass etching is one technique with which she is exploring a fine art focussed form of expression, collaborating with local queen of glass - Manisha Shah – in upcycling discarded glass into unique fine art pieces.

As a graphic designer is fundamentally a visual communicator – the logical next step seemed obvious – to create an installation to physically illustrate an idea. This work, installed at the Byenal Sesel 2022, is her first participation in a fine art exhibition, strongly motivated by the conviction that at this critical point in environmental concerns, it seems a luxury to indulge in art simply for art’s sake. Artists (and designers) are uniquely placed to alert their fellow humans to nudge their destructive behaviour towards a more harmonious way of life with Mother Nature.