Lavishly illustrated book delves into the
home environment of 15 top South African artists. (Review by Caroline Smart)
Ever wondered what kind of environment
inspires a visual artist – whether it be for work or leisure? Do they collect
things? What kind of decor do they prefer? What do they hang on their walls –
their own work or that of others? Do they like a clean design or prefer to live
in a glorious mixed clutter of much-loved possessions?
Paul Duncan, an
independent media consultant and former editorial director at Condé Nast
Independent Magazines and editor of Condé Nast’s House & Garden (South
Africa), took his curiosity a quantum leap forward. He approached well-known
artists in different disciplines to see if they would be prepared to open their
homes for public knowledge.
Some 15 artists generously agreed to do so
and the result is South African Artists
at Home, an impressive coffee table book lavishly illustrated with full-page
photographs. A credit to the photographers and the design team, it takes the
reader into bedrooms, kitchens, lounges and gardens which reflect an extension
of the artists’ lifestyle.
The list of artists includes Conrad Botes,
Willem Boshoff, Kate Gottgens, Willie Bester, Jody Paulsen, Hylton Nel, Tom
Cullberg, Roger Ballen, Michael Taylor, Sanell Aggenbach and Brett Murray,
Beezy Bailey, Sam Nhlengethwa, Johann Louw and Barend de Wet.
There are memorable images, such as Hylton
Nel’s numerous carpets and books; Roger Ballen’s giant delicious monsters in
his tree-filled garden or Willem Boshoff relaxing in bed, coffee mug in one
hand and a Thesaurus in the other while a contented cat lies at the foot of the
bed. Barend de Wet’s “knitted” enamel-painted sculpture cast in bronze stares
at itself in a mirror. Beezy Bailey’s bathroom hosts a large shoe collection
beneath a ceiling of embedded perlemoen shells (as seen on the front cover, above).
Some of the houses date way back: Johann
Louw’s to the 1890’s, Hylton Nel’s to the 1850’s while Sanell Aggenbach and
Brett Murray’s home was built in 1750. By contrast, there’s Michael Taylor’s
studio in his small flat. Then there’s Willie Bester’s attention-grabbing house
surrounded with pipes and machinery gadgets which has a vintage Fiat 500
hanging in one of the rooms.
Don’t just look at the pictures – really
explore them. It’s a fascinating adventure. Let your eyes wander through the
bookcases, the shelves and the ornaments on the tables, not to mention the
artists’ choice of kitchen utensils! A number of the artists are avid
collectors, such as Sam Nhlengethwa with his 400 strong jazz vinyl collection.
Duncan’s writing style is comfortable and
informal, avoiding the often-incomprehensible ”artspeak” so prevalent in
discussions about artists. While revealing their personal living and working
environments, he also gives details about the artists’ lives and their work.
My only disappointment is that no KwaZulu-Natal
artists are represented. To name a few, Andrew Verster, Andries Botha, Themba
Shibase and Carl Roberts would have made major contributions.
Published in hardcover by Struik Lifestyle
and released in February 2015, South
African Artists at Home is priced at R375. ISBN: 9781432301958 – Caroline
Smart
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