Corné du Plessis – Photographer and sculptor

From a young age, Corné du Plessis was fascinated by cameras and photography. He bought his first SLR camera at the age of 21 and is self-taught; photography having been part of his life’s journey as a hobby.

Corné has had a varied career, from being in the corporate sector to owning an international brand franchise store. In 2013 he decided to pursue his passion for photography as his future career. His own fitness goals and understanding of the male physique quickly led to his honing the skill of male portrait and fitness photography, which naturally evolved into DUDOIR photography. His photography has a strong focus on body positivity, leaving his clients with a confidence boost after the photo session.

The Market Photo Workshop (a division of The Market Theatre Foundation in Newtown, Johannesburg) invited him to become a senior facilitator to lecture in photography to its advanced students, teaching them the importance of light to achieve the ultimate photographic results.

In 2021 Corné published his first book, titled MANSCAPES. It is a fine art coffee table book featuring a body of work on male nudes. The book is available as print-on-demand at www.bit.ly/MANSCAPES2021. Limited edition prints of his photographs are also available on request.

He then started using his photos as inspiration to create ceramic sculptures. In 2023 his sculptures were selected to be shown at the annual SculptX Fair hosted by the Melrose Gallery, in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg. Two of his pieces were sold. During the 2024 SculptX Fair, all five pieces he exhibited sold within the first half-an-hour of the exhibition’s opening. Clients can commission their own sculptures to become their personal objet d’art.

Corné started producing functional ceramic art, mainly featuring the male physique. He uses a variety of techniques to finish the pieces, ranging from age old gilding, raku techniques to crystalline glazing and patina techniques, allowing him freedom to experiment. Corné doesn’t create art with the aim to have a deep philosophical meaning, instead he wants the viewer to enjoy his work through their own interpretation.

Website: www.dudoir.co.za