Venda Artist Subject of New Taxi Book
by by Sean O'Toole
Noria Mabasa, the Venda artist who received a Presidential Award in 2002 for her artistic achievements, is the subject of the latest TAXI book from David Krut Publishing. The seventh publication in the TAXI Art Books series, the book features essays by Dr. Rayda Becker, the curator of the Parliamentary Art Collection, Cape Town and previously associate professor in the History of Art & Fine Arts department at UNISA, as well as Kathryn Straughan, who runs the Lesheba Wilderness Arts Programme in Limpopo, where Noria Mabasa teaches.
"I'm delighted to be producing the first book in the TAXI series on a contemporary black female artist and especially one of such growing national and international reputation as Noria Mabasa," said David Krut in a press release. We can only agree that it is both timely and necessary. It also helps to removes the focus of the series, which thus far has concentrated on urban art practice, to a distinctly rural setting.
For those unfamiliar with the TAXI Art Books series, it is a long-term, non-profit cultural investment that provides exposure for contemporary South African artists and their work. Initiated in 2000 by the French Institute of South Africa and Pro Helvetia Liaison Office South Africa, the series draws additional funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the Royal Netherlands Embassy and the National Arts Council of South Africa. Previous subjects in the series have included the photographers Lien Botha and Santu Mofokeng, and artists Jeremy Wafer and David Koloane, amongst others.
Noria Mabasa's new TAXI book was launched on Tuesday, April 8 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. The event was well attended.
