Conrad Bo paints in the style of Superstroke and Superblur and attempts to communicate his views on social issues, historical events and avant garde art theory.

Innovation in contemporary art is Conrad Bo’s main objective and he strives to achieve this by using manifesto driven art, and the concept of Calculated Chaos. He executes his Superstroke and Superblur paintings by using expressive, even violent brushstrokes, symbols, writing and dripping, to comment on issues of life, history, decoration, morality, and identity.

Plus signs (+) feature in nearly all of his paintings and is a sign of the Superstroke, an indication of an increase, by the addition of. The plus sign is a positive sign, a sign of hope, the sum is more than its parts, a ranking on the higher end of a designated scale, a favourable condition or factor and in some instances a sign of peace, and a sign of help. The use of the + (plus) is also used to differentiate ‘Superstroke’ paintings from other art movements such as Expressionism, Abstract Expressionism and Neo-Expressionism. The 2008 manifesto of the Superstroke Art Movement is the cornerstone of most of the art produced by Conrad Bo and other members of the Superstroke Art Movement.

Most of Conrad Bo’s childhood was spent growing up in Witbank also known as eMalahleni, an African town about 150km from Johannesburg. He started drawing and painting from an early age. He experimented with a style called Generalism from 2003 until 2008, when he felt that it (Generalism) came to the end of its innovative cycle.

The art concept and style called Superstroke was founded by Conrad Bo in 2008 and became an internationally known Art Movement with members in different countries. The Superstroke art produced by Conrad Bo features expressive, even violent brush, pencil and pen strokes, in accordance with the Superstroke Art Movement manifesto. There is also a heavy emphasis on texture in Superstroke as these paintings are sometimes described as the opposite of Superflat (A Japanese art movement conceived by Takashi Murakami). Some of his art are also inspired by artists such as Boldini, Giacometti, Bacon, Papetti, Picasso, Basquiat and Miro. Another important inspiration in the art of Conrad Bo are 2 books namely: In Pursuit of the Unknown,  17 Equations that Changed the World, by Ian Steward and 5 Equations that changed the world: The Power and Poetry of Mathematics by Michael Guillen. Conrad Bo tries to use the mathematical equations, and also the concepts of Superblur and AE.LIC to create some of the most complex and difficult paintings to understand.

Manifesto for The Superblur Art Movement:

1. Superblur refers to a method of creating art using the definition of the word blur.
2. Thus the focus of the art will be to make the object or classification of the art unclear or less distinct .
3. Superblur will also focus elements that cannot be seen or heard clearly.
4. When photography is used with the elements of Superblur in mind. The camera will be manipulated or even be shaken to blur the picture and the aim is to produce images that are similar to abstract art in painting.
5. Instead of creating art for the sake of art, elements of art movements such as Superflat, Superstroke, Cubism and so forth, will be blurred in an attempt to create art that will be known as Superblur art.
6. The symbol for Superblur is the abstract bar code to differentiate it from other art movements such as Neo-Expressionism.

The Manifesto for the Superstroke Art Movement is as follows:

1. Paintings and sculptures should be executed using expressive, energetic even violent brushstrokes and drips on at least some part of the picture or surface.
2. Should a photograph be used for a figurative painting, the objection should not be Photorealism, but Expressionism.
3. If mediums such as pen, pencil, etc are used, the pen and pencil strokes must at least be overly expressive for it to be considered a Superstroke picture.
4. Paintings can be executed in both the abstract and figurative.
5. Subject matters such as Africa, light, dark, life and death are encouraged. The use of intentional plus signs, are essential.
6. Collage, Stencil and Calligraphy may be used for impact.
7. The Super Expressive Brush, Pen etc. strokes can be used on any object with a surface, and this makes sculpture possible in Superstroke.
8. The concept, Art for the sake of art, does not apply in Superstroke. In Superstroke it is art for the sake of Superstroke, as the artist must always strive for paintings rich in texture, or excessive and energetic brush or pencil strokes.

ACHIEVEMENTS

2021 – LAE Group Exhibition – “LA FEMME” – LAE Art Gallery

2020 – LAE Group Exhibition – “Lockdown” – LAE Art Gallery

2019 – LAE Group exhibition –– “Contemporary African Art meets European Design” – European Light & Design Centre

2019 – Group Exhibition – “Africa’s Art Collective Seasons Spring 2019” – The Mall of Africa

2019 – Turbine Art Fair

2019 – Group Exhibition – “Africa’s Art Collective Seasons Autumn 2019” – The Mall of Africa

2019 – LAE Group Exhibition –– “African Influences” – The Hyatt Regency Hotel Rosebank

2019 – Group Exhibition – Curated by Leigh Rein – Werksmans Sandton

2018 – Exhibition – “Superblur paintings that will make you think” – LAE Gallery – 1 Fox Str JHB

2018 – LAE Group Exhibition – “Thebe Ya Mosadi – She is Power” – Urban Tree Sandton

2018 – LAE Group Exhibition – “FNB Early Childhood Development Fundraiser” – FNB Private Wealth Sandton

2016 – Turbine Art Fair

2015 – Turbine Art Fair

2015 – LAE Group Exhibition – “Abstract Africa Today” – Arts on Main Maboneng

2015 – Solo Exhibition – “Paintings so complicated I do not even know what is means” – Arts on Main Maboneng

2014 – Group Exhibition – “Nedbank – Make a warmer winter happen” – Sandton Square & Grahamstown