10 Years/100 Artists/1000 Arguments
A much anticipated event on the art calendar is the publication of 10 Years/100 Artists: Art in a Democratic South Africa. Under the general editorship of Sophie Perryer, it follows the Cream style of Phaidon survey or 'exhibitions in a book'. To this end 15 critics, theorists and curators were asked to make a selection of the artists they saw as representing the cutting edge in South African art at this time, informed by the last 10 years of the country's emergence in a globalised art arena. As one might imagine with this aim, there have already been mutterings about inclusions and exclusions, but few can quibble with the value of this work as a reference book.
The finished product is a large, weighty coffee table book, with hundreds of illustrations, most of which will be unfamiliar to even the most dedicated follower of South African art. Perryer specifically set out to highlight new work, current projects and the 'state of the art'. It includes short individual texts by all the 'selectors', Perryer herself, extracts from a much lengthier email debate that the curators went through, and a very valuable timeline of the major events in fine art in South Africa over the last decade and a half.
The book is published by Bell-Roberts in association with Struik and will sell for the very reasonable price of R375. Limited edition versions are also available. The book forms part of Exclusive Books' 'Publishers Choice' this year and will be launched in Johannesburg on October 21. Cape Town and Durban launches will follow.
For further information contact suzette@bell-roberts.com
