Local artist introduced to the world
A book by renowned Knysna-based artist Stanley Grootboom was recently on display among the best South Africa has to offer pertaining to the book arts.
Grootboom’s book was exhibited at the international Booknesses Colloquium at the University of Johannesburg’s faculty of art, design and architecture (Fada) gallery from March 21 until May 5.
“The purpose of the event was to showcase a selection of artists’ books from the collection of Jack Ginsberg … to introduce South African artists, designers and students to international experts such as Sarah Bodman, a senior research fellow for book art from the University of the West of England, Bristol, in the UK, and Robbin AmiSilverberg, artist and founding director of Dobbin Mill hand-papermaking studio and Dobbin Books collaborative artist book studio in in New York,” said Grootboom.
Ginsberg is known for his vast collection of art and books about art and artists, collected over the past 45 years.
Grootboom’s metal storybook weighs 16kg and is made from recycled material such as corrugated iron, wood and animal skin, with materials collected from one of the vanishing villages in Tsitsikamma.
“The story with full-colour illustrations, is about the coming of age of a Khoisan boy more than 300 years ago, in Tsitsikamma. The book installation entitled South African Gelieblik Stories and Songs was also previously on exhibition at the North-West University art gallery.”
It took Grootboom seven months to complete the book. An academic article on Grootboom’s art book, by professor Franci Greyling, appeared in the SA Journal of Art History, Volume 29 of 2014.
Grootboom’s advice to artists, both established and aspiring is, “If your art is not taken seriously by those around you, then take it somewhere else – you will be surprised to see the calibre of people interested in your work.”
The artist, who has been teaching art every Saturday at the Old Gaol Museum for free, told the newspaper that next on his cards is to establish an art school or studio in Johannesburg.
One of Knysna’s renowned artists exhibited his book installation at the University of Johannesburg recently. The book that weighs 16kg and tells the story about a vanishing village in Tsitsikamma. Photo: Supplied
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Source: Knysna Plett Herald News