North Gallery

Diek Grobler

Take a leaf from my book 15 August to 5 September 2026

In Take a leaf from my Book, Diek Grobler revisits his informal archives and sketchbooks from the past four decades to revive lingering ideas and stories that have been leitmotifs in his work through a long and diverse career. 

As is often the case when he exhibits, Grobler takes a new technical approach in the bulk of the works on show.  The 30 multi-media works combine digital drawing, photography, printing, hand drawing and gouache painting in a body of sketchbook-sized (A4) paintings which look both surprisingly new, and very familiar.  New, because the adjusted technical approach results in new ways of depicting recurring themes.  Familiar, because Grobler’s recurring themes are all present – paper boats and jets, birds, trees, puppets – depicted with skill and humour.