Malcolm Christian

Lidgetton

SONGS FROM THE EARTH - COLLECTOR'S EDITION (2016)

Type of book work: Editioned / printed work
Dimensions: 300 x 160
Media: paper page books with cloth and board portfolio

Artist's / designer's statements

This project began during a Cultural Dialogue Residency at Caversham in 2009 when writer Mxolisi Nyezwa created a collection of 18 poems. On leaving, he gave me his manuscript and asked me to use the poems in a future project. During 2014 and 2015 Vusi Zwane, our Artist-in-Residence, and his intern Simphiwe Cebekhulu used these poems as inspiration to make a series of black and white images on acetate. These words and images were the source for 'Songs from the earth', which was designed, printed and bound at The Caversham Press. This project was completed in 2016.

Three books contained in a bound portfolio: book 1 is a pamphlet stitch anthology of 18 poems, accompanied by two accordion books of 9 images each, inspired by the poetry.

SONGS FROM THE EARTH - STANDARD EDITION (2016)

Type of book work: Editioned / printed work
Dimensions: 300 x 160
Media: paper page book with paper cover

Artist's / designer's statements

Three books contained in a bound portfolio: book 1 is a pamphlet stitch anthology of 18 poems, accompanied by two accordion books of 9 images each, inspired by the poetry.

Songs from the Earth affirms the concept that many artists' books are evidence of creative, collaborative partnerships between artists and masterprinters. With Songs from the Earth the collaboration is more complex. It embraces poems by Mxolisi Nyezwa, screenprints by Vusi Zwane and Simphiwe Cebekhulu, and book design devised and executed by myself, masterprinter and director of The Caversham Press in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. The result of this interaction is an artist's book - 18 poems in dialogue with visual images, created not as illustrations but as visual responses to the sentiment and rhythm of the poetry. This limited edition portfolio comprises three simple handmade books; two accordion folds and a Pamphlet stitched anthology of poems. The books, designed text, and hand-printed images - are created to be held, read, and looked at.

The book has a back story. The Caversham Press and its commitment to the residency programmes were intrinsic to the activities promoted by the Caversham Centre for Artists and Writers. Songs from the Earth was generated by the final international cultural dialogue residency held in 2009. This residency included two writers and two visual artists, one of each from South Africa and Atlanta Georgia USA.

The residency was hosted a year after the tragic murder of Caversham Programmes Manager, Gabisile Nkosi, at her home in our local community of Lidgetton. MxolisiNyezwa was moved by what he knew of Gabi's community work and learnt of her sudden, violent death, and her presence infiltrated the poems he wrote during the residency. When he left Caversham, Mxolisi handed me a manuscript of eighteen poems and asked me to 'do something with them'. I made a number of unsuccessful attempts to create a single book comprised of Mxolisi's poems and images created by the young artists with whom we worked, but in each instance an essential thread connecting content, context and artist was missing.

Only in 2014 when exploring the possibility of separate volumes of text and image was cohesiveness found. As the end of Gabi's life moved Mxolisi to poetic expression, so the final production of Songs from the Earth coincided with the closure of the Caversham Centre for Artists and Writers. The book of poems by a South African writer and images by local intern Simphiwe, and resident visual artist Vusi, echoes the values underpinning Caversham's 17 year mission of collaborative activity. It provides a fitting requiem and token of appreciation for all those who helped make the Centre a place of connection and meaning.

Artist / Master Printmaker Education 1984 Master of Arts in Fine Arts, Cum Laude, University of Natal, South Africa. 1976 National Higher Diploma in Printmaking, with distinction. Natal Technikon, Durban, South Africa. 1975 Post-Graduate Printmaking Certificate, with distinction. Croydon College of Art and Design, England. 1973 National Diploma in Art & Design (Sculpture) with distinction; National Certificate in Photography, with distinction. Natal College for Advanced Technical Education, Durban, South Africa. Awards 1973 Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship. Natal College for Advanced Technical Education, Durban, South Africa. 2014 Doctor of Literature honoris causa. University of KwaZulu Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Exhibitions 2010-2013 People Prints, Process - 25 Years at Caversham Press - 81 artists, 110 prints 2007 Hourglass project: Inspiration - 12 artists, 24 prints and 6 books 2005 Hourglass project: Personal Vocabulary - 16 artists, 18 prints and 6 books 2003 Hourglass project: Journey - 16 artists, 25 prints and 6 books E-Pos - Frans Masereel Centre partnership - 4 Writers and 4 Artists, 16 prints 2001 Hourglass Project: Baggage - 17 Artists, 40 prints 2000 The Hourglass Project: A Women's Vision, A millennium dialogue - 15 Women Artists, 30 Prints and Portrait Book