Impressions from South Africa, 1965 to Now: Prints from The Museum of Modern Art

Description

Encompassing black-and-white linoleum cuts made at community art centres in the 1960s and 1970s, resistance posters and other political art of the 1980s, and the wide variety of subjects and techniques explored by artists in printships over the last two decades, printmaking has been a driving force in contemporary South African artistic and political expression. Impressions from South Africa: 1965 to Now, published to accompany an exhibition at The Museum of Modern Art, introduces the vital role of printmaking through works by more than twenty artists in the Museum's collection. The volume features prints by John Muafangejo and Dan Rakgoathe, a selection of posters produced for anti-apartheid coalitions in the 1980s, and nuanced political work by SueWilliamson, Norman Catherine andWilliam Kentridge. The book features many more recent projects, demonstrating the contemporary relevance of the medium in South Africa today. The work, presented in a generous plate section, is contextualized in an introduction by Judith B. Hecker, and accompanied by brief biographies of the artists, a timeline of relevant events in South African history, and a selected bibliography.

Concisely and lucidly organized... in summarizing sources that may not be readily available to a Western audience, provides as solid an introduction to South African printmaking as one could hope for.... The end matter of the catalogue for Impressions from South Africa: 1965 to Now contains an invaluable compendium of information that will provide a major resource for scholars in the future. Included in these "yellow pages" are an extensive chronology (1948 to the present), artist biographies, notes on artists and political organizations, notes on publishers and printers (printmaking studios), and a selected bibliography.--Pamela Allara "CAA Reviews" Imagine a collection of work both cheeky and charming, comical and terrifying, political and lyrical at the same time - a slap in the face to those in authority and a kick in the gut of viewers, yet a visual delight as well. That aptly describes 'Impressions from South Africa, 1965 to Now', an exhibition of nearly 80 prints, posters, books, postcards, stenciled wall installations and other material by 29 artists and collectives.--Steven Dubin "ArtThrob" Provides a D.I.Y. template for political art today.--Maika Pollack "Observer"