Aidon Westcott’s work explores fragments of a former culture through the use of ephemera from yesteryear. His work explores the use of mixed media techniques such as collage, photomontage and found objects, which invest new and continually shifting meaning and interpretations for each individual.

The individual essence of the materials and nature of the found objects selected by the artist, play an important part in creating the mood and atmosphere for each artwork.

The term Ephemera covers a wide range of transitory written or printed documents including leaflets, handbills, tickets, trade cards, programs, playbills, printed tins, packaging, adverts, posters, postcards photographs and newspapers.

These documents are not intended to be retained or preserved but each item reflects the moods or mores of past time in a way that formal records cannot.

The fish as symbols themselves are products of the emotions (sea) and intuition (freshwater), so fish can be symbolic of the world of symbols, in contrast with the purely materialistic earthbound approach to life. Fish are the treasures of the waters, which in general symbolise the psyche in contrast with the body: the unconscious rather than the ordinary conscious.
They stand for symbols of sacrifice and profound life, referring to the invisible, spiritual world and represent the life force that surges up from under the world of appearance. The fish symbol becomes productive of the human predicament depicting patterns in the psyche in the cycle of life.

EDUCATION

2003
Baccalaureus Technologiae Degree (B-Tech: Cum Laude) in Fine Art (Painting) at Buffalo City Public FET College (Satellite Campus) under the auspice and in conjunction with Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) formerly known as PE Technikon.

2002
National Diploma III in Fine Art at Buffalo City Public FET College (previously known as East London Technical College) under the auspice of Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) formerly known as PE Technikon.

AWARDS

2003
Best Student Per Program (Best Fourth Year Student)
Merit Award for Academic Excellence 

2002
Best Ceramics Student
Progress award for Painting
Student of the year.

2000
Best all round 2nd year student.

1999
Best all round 1st year student.

EXPERIENCE
2014
Participated in group exhibition titled 'Threshold' at The Cape Gallery

2013
Participated in group exhibition titled “New Beginnings” held at Art B, Bellville
Participated in group exhibition titled “The love Planet” held at Grande Provence. Franschoek.
Participated in group exhibition titled ‘Naked Sculptures and Other Stories’ with photographer, Marc Stains and  at Ebony Design, Loop Street, Cape Town
Solo Exhibition titled “Replica of Memory” held at AVA Gallery,Church Street, Cape Town
Participated in group exhibition titled “Pentimenti” with Louis Jansen van Vuuren (Curator) held at Sasol Museum, Woordfees 2013, Stellenbosch.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Me/Ek” held by Fried Contemporary Gallery at the ABSA KKNK Arts Festival 2013, Oudtsthoorn.
Participated in group exhibition held by Artspace , Curatored by Teresa Lizamore, Johannesburg.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Annual Summer Sale” held by Rust-En-Vrede Galley, Durbanville, Cape Town
Participated in group exhibition titled “Annual Solstice Exhibition-Proverbs” held by The Cape Gallery,Cape Town.

2012
Gallery Curator at The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg (May 2012-December 2012)
Solo Exhibition titled “Memory/Geheue” held at The Prince Vincent Building on the Main Program for the ABSA KKNK Arts Festival, Oudtsthoorn.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Objects of beauty and Desire” held by Knysna Fine Art.(Plettenberg Bay Annex Venue)
Participated in group exhibition titled “Curators Choice” held by The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Stock” held by The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape. (Exhibition Curator)
Participated in a group exhibition titled “Flesh” held by The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape. (Exhibition Curator)
Exhibited paintings at Ebony Design, Franschhoek.
Exhibited paintings at Art Afrique, Santon, Johannesburg.
Exhibited paintings at Christopher Moller Fine Art, Cape Town.
Participated in group exhibition titled “ME2” held by Fried Contemporary Gallery, Pretoria / Potchefstroom / Bloemfontein.
Permanent position from May 2012 to December 2012 as Gallery Curator for The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Alter Ego” held by Rust-En-Vrede Galley, Durbanville, Cape Town
Participated in group exhibition titled “Turn around Time” held by The Cape Gallery, Cape Town
Participated in group exhibition titled “Mash Up” held by Alex Hamilton at his studio, Woodstock, Cape Town
Participated in a group exhibition titled “Indulgences” held by The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape. (Exhibition Curator)
Solo Exhibition titled “Colligere” held at Rust-en-Vreede Gallery, Durbanville, Cape Town, Durbanville Cultural Society.
Participated in a group exhibition titled “From Genre to Manifesto” held by The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape. (Exhibition Curator)
Participated in group exhibition titled “Mash Up 2 –Boy Toy” held by Alex Hamilton at his studio, Woodstock, Cape Town
Participated in group exhibition held by Retro Cafe, Pretoria.
Exhibited artworks at Stellenbosch Corporate Golf Day and donated art work for Abused Children Fund Raising Auction sponsored by Woolworths as Head Sponsor, C2M, Mostert & Bosman and Cape Gate Shopping centre as Co-Sponsors-namely:Coca Cola, SAB Miller, Investec, Absa, Standard Bank, WP Rugby, Mugg and Bean.
Solo Exhibition titled “Art(i)fact” held at The Art Business Contemporary Gallery and Consultancy, Piketberg, Western Cape. (Exhibition Curator to four of the other Solo’s at The Art Business Venue - Sandra Hanekom- I Object; Annelie Venter- Vel(d); Loni Drager-(S)kin; Judy Bumstead- InsideOut

2011
Exhibited paintings at Knysna Fine Art, Knysna
Exhibited paintings at D&I Gallery, Kloof Street, Cape Town
Exhibited paintings at Ebony Design, Franschhoek
Exhibited paintings at Art Afrique, Santon, Johannesburg
Collaborated with Riona Van Der Merwe (Exhibition Curator and Mosaic’s) in a Exhibition titled “Dichotomy” at Grahamstown Arts Festival  held at two venues: Carrinus Annex and 32 Hill Street, Grahamstown.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Continuum” held at The Cape Gallery, Church Street, Cape Town.
Participated in group exhibition titled “200 Eastern Cape Artists held at Grahamstown and Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape.
Exhibited paintings at Christopher Moller Fine Art, Cape Town
Artwork purchased by Paul Harris for Ellerman House Contemporary Art Collection, Cape Town
Participated in the Art South Africa’s Fund Rising Art Auction, Cape Town .

2010
Solo Exhibition titled “Stitched Mementos” held at The Cape Gallery, Church  Street, Cape Town.
Solo Exhibition titled “Yesteryear” at Grahamstown Arts Festival at the South African Institute for Aquatic biodiversity.
Exhibited paintings at Ebony Design, Franschhoek
Exhibited paintings at Knysna Fine Art, Knysna
Exhibited paintings at D&L Gallery, Kloof Street,Cape Town
Exhibited paintings at Art Afrique, Santon,Johannesburg
Exhibited paintings at Roussouw Modern, The Fisherman’s Gallery, Hermanus

2009
Solo Exhibition titled “Ephemera” at David Brown Fine Art, Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Solo Exhibition titled “Ephemera II” at Grahamstown Arts Festival at the South African Institute for Aquatic biodiversity.
Collage workshop held at Knysna Fine Art for Top Billing, Knysna - workshop to be featured in Top Billing lifestyle magazine and website.
Participated in group exhibition titled “Pop” Held at the Barn at Riebeek Kastel, Cape Town.
Participated in group show titled “George Summer 41st” at the Strydom Gallery, George.

2008
Participated in group exhibition titled “Traces” curatored by Julia Meintjies held at Tokara Winery, Stellenbosch, Cape Town.
Participated in group exhibition featuring Eastern Cape artists titled “Ancestral Influences” held at Art Afrique, Johannesburg.
Solo Exhibition titled “Ephemera” at Grahamstown Arts Festival at the South African Institute for Aquatic biodiversity.
Exhibited paintings at La Grange Art and Interiors, Franschhoek
Participated in group exhibition for the opening of Knysna Fine Art new premises in Knysna.
Participated in group show titled “George Summer 40th” at the Strydom Gallery in George.

2007
Solo Exhibition titled “Fishing Season” at The Square Gallery, Port Alfred
Participated in the “No Signatures” Exhibition hosted by Cuyler Street Gallery in Port Elizabeth.
Solo Exhibition titled “Recollection” at Grahamstown National Arts Festival at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
Solo Exhibition titled “ Psychometry” held a Knysna Fine Art, Knysna.
Participated in Group exhibition of Eastern cape Artists titled “Art from the Ground Up” at the Legislate Buildings in Hannover, Germany

2006
Exhibited Paintings at Morgan Bay Art Gallery, Morgan Bay.
Participated in the “No Signatures” Exhibition hosted by Cuyler Street Gallery in Port Elizabeth.
Solo Exhibition titled “Memorabilia” at Grahamstown National Arts Festival at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
Participated in the “Anima-Animus”  Exhibition at Boabab Gallery, East London
Exhibited Paintings at The Square Gallery, Port Alfred

2005
Exhibited Paintings at Morgan Bay Art Gallery, Morgan Bay.
Participated in group showing commemorating the ten year anniversary of the William Humphrey’s Gallery in Kimberley, which was a joint venture with Cuyler Street Gallery in Port Elizabeth.
Participated in the “No Signatures” Exhibition hosted by Cuyler Street Gallery in Port Elizabeth.
Solo Exhibition titled “Fish Symbolism” at Cuyler Street Gallery, Port Elizabeth.
Participated in group showing focussing on chairs at Cuyler Street Gallery, Port Elizabeth.
Solo Exhibition titled “The Fish Chronicles” at Grahamstown National Arts Festival at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
Participated in the “Good Taste” exhibition at Articles and Frames, Pretoria

2004
Exhibited Paintings, Sculptures and Ceramics at Coelacanth Gallery in Moore Street, East London.
Solo Exhibition at Grahamstown National Arts Festival titled ‘Symbiosis’ at the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.

2003
Participated in Sasol Science Festival Exhibition in Grahamstown at South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity.
Participated in Buffalo City Public FET College Annual Student Exhibition.
Participated in Buffalo City Public FET College End of Year Student Exhibition (titled EXHIBIT - B) at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery.
Exhibited and Participated in South African Coastal and Exploration Conference at East London City Hall and East London Museum.
Participated in East London Fine Art Society End of Year Exhibition at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery.

2002
Johnson & Johnson Commission – Giant map of Africa.
Participated in Art FX Student Exhibition at Grahamstown Festival.
Participated in Buffalo City Public FET College  Annual Student Exhibition
Participated in Buffalo City Public FET College End of Year Student Exhibition at the Couch House, Ann Bryant Art Gallery.
Participated in Buffalo City Public FET College Senior Student Exhibition at Courtney Latimer Hall, East London Museum.

2000
Participated in the Metal Sculpture Exhibition at Frontiers Gallery.
Participated in the East London College Student & Staff Art Exhibition at the Grahamstown Arts Festival.
Participated in East London College Annual Student Exhibition.
Participated in East London College End of Year Student Exhibition at the Couch House, Ann Bryant Art Gallery and Thomas Art Gallery.

1999
Frere Hospital Community Service Mural.
SANAB Community Service Mural.
Participated in East London College Annual Student Exhibition.
Participated in East London College End of Year Student Exhibition at the Couch House, Ann Bryant Art Gallery and Thomas Art Gallery.
Participated in East London Fine Art Society ‘Peep Show’ Exhibition at the Coach House, Ann Bryant Art Gallery.