Africa e Mediterraneo and ART iT
by Andrew Lamprecht
Two interesting magazines that have crossed my desk recently may be worth a brief mention. Africa e Mediterraneo: Cultura e Societa is a wonderful resource on African culture with a strong emphasis on visual art. The majority of the articles are in Italian, but there are also entries in English and French. I got my grubby paws on Issue 50 and wept bitter tears at my lack of languages on seeing fascinating-looking articles by the likes of N�Goné Fall, Mamadou Jean-Charles Tall and others. It is a distinctly odd experience to see a full page article on Observatory in Cape Town or three pages on art in the New South Africa in Italian and peppered with very familiar names.
Amongst the articles in English is one by Sue Williamson on the New Crossroads Memorial Boards Project and a long and scholarly article on the city of Johannesburg by Dominique Malaquais. The magazine is printed on glossy paper and, apart from the cover, is illustrated in black and white: clearly an aesthetic rather than budgetary choice in the deluxe publication. I found this aspect very pleasing.
The issue is themed around the notion of the city and the artist's place in it. Given the dearth of information available on art in the continent generally Africa e Mediterraneo seems
to be filling an important gap. Visit www.africaemediterraneo.it if you want more info.
The other magazine, also a glossy, does not deal with Africa at all but is useful nonetheless in providing a perspective other than the dominant Americo-European one one finds so frequently. ART iT is Japan's first bilingual (Japanese/English) art quarterly. I examined the Fall/Winter 2004 issue and was blown away by this publication. It is absolutely packed with stuff, reviews, previews, essays, a list of '10 up-and-coming Korean artists' (proving it is not only in South Africa that there is an obsession with these sorts of lists), a special focus on Korea as well as beautifully designed cultural maps to help tourists and others find their way around. While Africa e Mediterraneo tends towards the scholarly, this is clearly a more mainstream journal but does not skimp on the quality and sheer quantity of information. At the end is a comprehensive list of upcoming events and shows all arranged on an equisitely designed timeline.
Paging through ART iT I had really wanted to jump on the next plane to Asia: it is very clear that there is a very exciting and vibrant art scene over there. On the web: www.artit.jp
I am most grateful to Miss Christina Wong for access to ART iT.
