Art of the Book 2018

Slaves in the belly of ships chained and beaten, some jumped overboard

rather than be taken to a foreign land.  This art could also mean slavery in books.

The art I can relate to is art that jogs my memory about things I have seen, liked or did not like based on my understanding of what is and what ought to be.

What is, is the artist, in her studio, wrestling with what she wants to put on canvas, clay, or the various metal, paper and iron she is working with. The end product is what is called art. We cannot say good or bad art because beauty (art) lies in the eyes of the beholder.

Khali Keyi, a Canadian artist believes in functional art, art that lives through people who use it like walking sticks with carved heads that resemble certain animals. African drums are not only musical instruments, they are art as well.

A dry pumpkin can be decorated with beads and used for drinking water. Earthenware pots for holding beer have incisions that reflect the state of mind of the person that molded the clay. Grass and place mats sometimes have geometric edges made from wool.

Art is cultural, religious and regional. Colour for example. Red is a good news colour brides wear in India, China and other Asian countries. White is for mourning in India, whereas brides wear white in Europe and most African countries taken over by the Queen of England.

Artists are no longer restricted by cultural and religious fences. That is why it has many labels I’m not familiar with, because I rely on the interaction between my eye and my mind, which brings me to the photo in this blog.

It is part of the Art of the Book 2018 exhibition where artists produce art inspired by books. This travelling exhibition is organized every five years by the Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild.

This particular piece is historical and current because African Americans were ripped from Africa and transported to other lands in an inhuman manner. Current because, Africans are leaving their homeland freely, packed in unsafe boats in search of what they think is a better way of life in Europe and America. Some die at sea.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang.