The Platform Gallery

Located in the picturesque KZN Midlands, a bustling area bursting with natural splendour and creative energy, The Platform Gallery was conceived about three years ago to showcase the work of local artists.

Aptly named after its locale – the old Lion’s River railway station in Howick – the gallery is brimming with a great many works in various mediums, including bronze sculptures, pencil drawings and oil paintings, and covering various subjects, from wildlife to abstract art, by South African artists, most of them based in the KZN area.

In fact, the gallery has one of the largest collections of sculptures available for purchase in South Africa. “The gallery boasts over 80 works created from bronze, stone, wood, and other natural materials,” notes the team.

These include incredible works such as a beautiful free-standing miniature otter sculpture by Luke Falconer and a patinated bronze aloe sculpture by Allen Hallett that capture the diverse fauna and flora of the region.

As well as works that exalt the human figure and spirit, such as Mark Meyers’ exquisitely beautiful figures suspended in poetic movement and the emotive works of Sma Tshabalala – many inspired by her life in Hlatikhulu village in the Drakensberg.

SIMON ADDY

“Her work is inspired by those in her community, and the subtleties of the relationships she sees therein. Sma has a keen eye for capturing the character of, and her emotional connection to, each of her subjects,” explains The Platform Gallery.

Then there are the more contemporary, abstract and conceptual pieces such as Dogs Tail by Florian Junge and Icarus by Sarah Lovejoy.

Of course, if sculpture isn’t your thing, the gallery also has more functional pieces. As the team notes: “If the fine art isn’t enough, we also feature more practical masterpieces, like the many bespoke furniture pieces and smokeless fire pits that are all made locally”.