Archive: Issue No. 66, February 2003

Hello,

I am a German collector of contemporary African art. For a long time I am looking without success for the following exhibiion catalogue -

Africus: Johannesburg Biennale 1995
Allen Bowyer [et.al]. - Johannesburg: Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council, 1995. - English text, 292p., ill. - ISBN 0-86998-1714.

Do you have an idea where I can get this catalogue to a reasonable price? I cannot think that it is not possible to get this catalogue in South Africa any more. Many thanks for your help.

Best regards
Peter-Andreas Kamphausen

Hamburg Mawingu Collection
Seestr. 4, D-22607 Hamburg / Germany
Telefax: 0049 - (0)40-824575

I suggest you visit www.clarkes.co.za, the website of Clarke's Bookshop, located in Cape Town, which specialises in Africana and also have an extensive collection of art books

Does anyone have an email address for Debbie Clark and Aliza Levi?

I have forwarded your message to Aliza Levi. Perhaps she or somebody else can help you with Debbie Clark

Two points of correction in your interview with Rochelle Keene entitled "The vagaries of transformation':

1. The Shelley Sacks exhibition is entitled: 'Exchange values: Images of invisible lives'.
2. [re]vision (note the spelling) comprised six shows together exploring the notion of sustainability, and was curated jointly by David Brodie (note the spelling), Veliswa Gwintsa and myself.

Thanks for pointing these errors out

Thanks for the very comprehensive write-up about Kentridge's exhibition at the SANG. One always learns something new from reading another person's perceptions and I shall have to return for a 4th visit to check on your various observations and to take my students. I shall give them your words to read too.

In my opinion, part of the fascination of looking at the work of a truly great artist is trying to analyse what it is that actually gives the work its power. I feel it has a lot to do with sincerity, integrity and personal involvement. Kentridge places himself in the work not only in images but in stating clearly where he is coming from. He is a white, privileged, well-educated Jewish artist, with firsthand experience of how such society operates - his work for me refers to how people are constantly seeking power by disempowering others and by accumulating money. In the process they and their victims become dehumanised. South African society was founded on such exploitation. But he never speaks for others, only himself and the group he knows well. It is a brave thing to do. Too many artists in SA cannot get this approach quite right. Speaking for others seldom works unless the victims themselves have no voice at all - as in the past.

Incidently, I can recommend the Kentridge Video which is for sale at SANG.

Regards Judy Thanks for your contribution. This is the sort of feedback we encourage.

Please take a look at my work at www.retardriot.com I hope that you will enjoy it.

Thank you - Noah Lyon