Michiel Conrad Botha, better known as Conrad Bo, was born on 9 August 1972 in Pretoria. He grew up in Witbank and attended primary and high school. Already in these early years, Conrad began painting and drawing. He later studied at the University of Johannesburg, where he graduated in economics.

After working for various large companies in the controlling department, he made a radical cut in 2002, in order to dedicate himself to his passion, the art.

In 2003 Conrad started experimenting with a variety of art styles following a generalist approach. When he felt that this phase had come to an end, he began to develop his art conceptually in 2008. He had the idea of presenting his motifs by means of expressive even violent brushstrokes, symbols, writing and dripping. Conrad focuses especially on a expressive texture of his pictures.

Since he was much concerned with avant-garde art theory and innovation in contemporary art, he developed a manifesto (footnote 1), which is the basis of a new, innovative art movement called "Superstroke". According to Conrad, it is strongly influenced - but at the same time diametrically opposed to it - by the Japanese "superflat" style, which goes back to Takashi Murakami and, based on Japanese subcultures such as manga and anime, prefers a flat representation. The "Superstroke Art Movement" today is an internationally renowned art movement, which, besides Conrad, also is supported by many other national and international artists such as Greg Simmonds, Spiez, Sputnik, Menno Baars, May Wentworth, Jaco, Erwee and Laetitia Lups.

Inspired by the books "In Pursuit of the Unknown: 17 Equations That Changed the World" by Ian Stewart and "5 Equations that changed the world: The Power and Poetry of Mathematics" by Michael Guillen, Conrad often uses mathematical formulas and symbols in his paintings. On the one hand, thereby his art can be distinguished from other artistic directions such as expressionism, neo-expressionism or abstract expressionism. On the other hand, he creates very complex and difficult-to-understand artworks, since the equations, formulas and symbols all stand in an context to the rest of the painting, thus contributing to his essence. The plus sign, for example, symbolizes an increase, it is a positive symbol for a positive state or a favorable condition, or for the fact that the whole is more important than its individual elements. It can be also a sign of hope and help. The concept behind the sometimes very bewildering paintings calls Conrad "Calculated Chaos". It stands for the apparent chaos of the surrounding world, which however follows at the end of an inherent logic which is not always understandable or explainable to us. In his paintings - in accordance with the Manifesto of the Superstroke Movement - he deals with questions of life, history and morality in contemporary South Africa.

A recent art movement, also initiated by Conrad, is the "Superblur Art Movement" (footnote 2). The main thing hereby is that the motif or object of the work of art is blurred or left unclear. A repetitive symbol of Superblur is the abstract barcode.

Conrad Bo has participated in many individual and group exhibitions over the past 10 years, he has a permanent exhibition and workspace in the "Living Artist Emporium", Ellis Park Stadium, New Doornfontein, Johannesburg, and at "Arts on Main", 264 Fox Street, Johannesburg, which is jointly operated by art-makers and gallery owners. The Living Artist Emporium (LAE) is a well-known platform for young artists, founded by Conrad and his brother Eric Botha, to provide young talented artists with a place to work and to support their development ( Pp. 34ff, 26th edition 2014, Joburg Style Magazine).

Ausstellungen (Auszug):

2014
“Paintings so complicated, I do not even know what it all means, Living Artist Emporium, Arts on Main, Johannesburg

2013
“A night at the Opera”, MOSMAA, Doornfontein, Johannesburg
“What I love”, Gallery on 6th Parkhurst, Johannesburg
“Artspot” , Avalon Recreation Centre, Avalon, Sydney, Australia 
“Artist Club Group Show”, Gallery on 6th Parkhurst, Johannesburg 

2012
“Superstrokefication of Mammals and Landscapes”, Odd Café Gallery, Johannesburg

2011
“Superstroke, Nothing but Mammals”, Pandora Art House,Pretoria
“St Marks Art in the Park Group Exhibition”, Avalon Sydney,Australia

2009
“Superstroke Bits and Pieces”, Penmore Towers, Johannesburg 
“Superstroke, Black and White”, Casciano Estate, Johannesburg 

Fußnote 1

The Manifesto for Superstroke is as follows:

1. Paintings should be executed using expressive even violent brushstrokes on at least some part of the picture. 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. 6. Collage, Stencil and Calligraphy may be used for impact. 7. 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 brush or pencil strokes.

Fußnote 2

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.