02/12/2017
When the English artist, Martin Short, arrived In Cape Town in 1973, he was immediately fascinated by the variety of the architectural styles - the unique blend of Dutch, Batavian and Victorian influences, particularly in the older areas of the city, Bo Kaap, Woodstock, Salt River, and the residential and industrial intermix that still survives today. He was also taken with the skill of the Malay artisans, who often added a personal flourish or motif to their work.
He realised all too clearly that in the industrial boom of the 70's, many of these areas might be lost to the wave of development and modernisation sweeping across the city. With characteristic energy, he was soon out with his easel, recording the scenes in gentle pastel shaded water colours or, for architectural details, in pen and ink.
His work echoed concerns of the National Monuments Council and other organisations, in particular a prominent city councillor, Jean Kantey, to ensure Cape Town's historic heritage was not lost. But in addition to the obvious grand examples of fine architecture, Short was also drawn to working activities in the harbour, and also the vast railway yards in Salt River. He gained the help of a local Woodstock man who told him that if were molested, he was to say he was "a friend of Bobby Mongrel". And indeed Bobby ensured that he was always protected.
When Short arrived in Cape Town, he already had behind him a distinguished and varied career. First obtaining a degree from The Chelsea College of Art in London, he further trained at The London School of Engraving and Graphic Art. In the early 1930's, he lived and worked in Austria, exhibiting copiously in Vienna, but also travelled widely in France and Italy, recording rich landscapes and city scenes. He also visited India, and become fluent in German, Italian, Dutch and French, acquiring also a working knowledge of Arabic and Urdu. He was a natural linguist.
Witnessing at first-hand the Anschluss, the horrendous N**i invasion of Austria and Vienna, where he was living in 1938, he noted, in an article in The Cape Argus, 50 years later, that the invasion had been planned with ruthless efficiency. Short soon then returned to Britain to serve in the British forces in the North African and Italian campaigns of WW II. At the end of the war, with the rank of Major, he was posted to the British occupying forces in Austria, largely because of his knowledge of the country, and his fluent Austrian-accented German
Martin Short and his wife Florence, nee Brooke-Anderson, a journalist, loved Animals deeply. And would take in any cat in need who arrived in their garden. So it is fitting that his work should help the Caspian Alexander Trust, run by his daughter Kairen.
"It is overwhelming here", says Kairen. "The PDSA calls to Woodstock twice a week to help, but in between the people who love animals, and who aren't rich, arrive at my doorstep. And pet food and medical attention cost money."
By AJP
