The Artists' Press is located in the Lowveld area, not far from the Kruger National Park, and has a long history of working with local and international artists. During our time there we helped owner Mark Attwood and printers Leshoka Legate, Thulasizwe Nyandeni and Jacky Tsila with a number of projects with artists including Hanneke Benadé, Conrad Botes, Robert Hodgins, William Kentridge, Sam Nhlengethwa and San (Bushman) artists from the Kuru Art Project in Botswana.
With Sam Nhlengethwa we worked on two series of images
of the townships surrounding Johannesburg. The first series comprises 10 black and white drawings and the second, five multiple colour images, both with a chine-collé background.
The workshop in winter
Jacky Tsila and Sarah at the press
Sam Nhlengethwa checking the proofs
Xgaiga Qhomatcã, X'aga, Koaba, Tamae Kaashe, Ditiro Mokwena and Coex'ae Bob are participants in the Kuru Art Project, one of many programmes which are part of a grass roots self-development organisation for the San people in
D'kar, in the Kalahari Desert in Botswana. The artists spent two weeks in September 2005 at The Artists' Press creating images in their unique style, which has earned them considerable international recognition.
Jacky Tsila, Ulrich and artist X'aga printing colour trial proofs
Kuru artists in the Kruger National ParkClick here to see the prints.
Artists X'aga, Koaba and Coex'ae Bob drawing
Over 4,000 pieces combine to make up the suite of extra-large format lithographs by William Kentridge, editioned in 2007.
Ulrich and Sarah joined the team at The Artists' Press to work
on the project, which involved 11 editions of collage-lithographs
and four free-standing sculptural prints, and took eight months
to complete.
William drawing the severed heads
Ulrich and William discussing a proof
Sizwe and Sarah curatingThese images presented us with a number of exciting challenges
and pushed the conventional boundaries of printmaking. The three largest collaged prints measure 160 cm x 120 cm and combine lithography, letterpress and hand painted elements. Each collaged vignette is a combination of layers of individually printed and hand-torn pieces.
The four 'Severed Heads' prints are double-sided free-standing sculptures, which incorporate a number of mixed media, chine-collé and hand coloured elements.
Edition size: 35.
For images of the prints, click here.
Ulrich and Mark assembling one of the large prints
Leshoka and Ulrich at the press
A completed 'Severed Heads' proof
Sarah assembling a 'Severed Heads' print
Piles of small collages