A R4000 art book that begs to be on your bookshelf published
BY Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
At R4 025 it may appear to be a not inexpensive book. That is at face value. However, considering the amount of work that went into the book, you actually immediately realise that that investment in a book of this international standard is worth it.
For example, there was extensive research that saw writers Gavin Watkins and Charles Skinner scouring a mountain of archives looking for anything and everything with even scant reference to the art practices of the late world renowned South African sculptors Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae.
Add this to a production team that included a Singaporean based South African designer and a team of photographers that took photographs of some of the contemporary visual content that needed to go into the book, then on your bookshelf you will realise that you have a priceless collector’s item indeed. And accompanying this book launch and the exhibition are a number of events, including walkabouts to view the 92 sculptures on display, lectures and a teacher training initiative.
This is clearlya bold affirmation to Strauss &Co.’s on-going commitment to education.
“Strauss & Co is delighted to announce the launch of a comprehensive new book and exhibition devoted to the sculptors Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae. Published by Strauss & Co on a not-for-profit basis, The Sculptures of Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae is a detailed catalogue raisonné documenting all the known work produced by Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae, two formidable mid-century sculptors. Written and researched by Gavin Watkins and Charles Skinner, the 656-page book includes over 1100 archival and contemporary photographs and retails at R4025 (VAT inclusive).
On the occasion of the launch of this landmark book, Strauss & Co is hosting a retrospective exhibition of 92 sculptures by Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae at its Johannesburg premises (19 June to 28 July 2023). The exhibition features a substantial number of works documented in the catalogue raisonné: 60 of the 125 sculptures attributed to Kumalo, and 32 of the 55 sculptures credited to Legae. A vibrant programme of public events is also planned, including author engagements, scholarly lectures, teacher training initiatives and walkabouts,” the company states.
“Serious scholarship needs patronage, and Strauss & Co is pleased to support this book which is a culmination of indefatigable research by Gavin Watkins and Charles Skinner, compiling an exhaustive catalogue of all the sculptures of Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae,” says Wilhelm van Rensburg, Head Curator & Senior Art Specialist, Strauss & Co.
“The Sculptures of Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae is an indispensable resource for future researchers in the field of black modernist artists in South Africa, as well as for students, collectors and art lovers in general. The catalogue raisonné is a major restatement of the careers and peak output of Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae. To celebrate this outstanding book, Strauss & Co is presenting a comprehensive retrospective exhibition showcasing 60 Kumalo sculptures and 32 Legae sculptures.”
“When I started working on this book in 2019, after I met Charles here at Strauss &Co in 2018. However personally I had started working on the project years back, as I had access to Guenther’s archives in relation to Sydney Kumalo and Ezrom Legae.
Luckily I was based in London then and had therefore access to museums to retrieve archival material for the book, and Charles was based here and therefore was able to research about the artists in local libraries and museums,” Watkins told CITYLIFE/ARTS in an exclusive interview about this book accompany the current exhibition at Strauss &Co. galleries at the leading fine art auction house’s Johannesburg Head Office, 89 Central Street, Houghton. I held the interview with the writers on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, after they took me on a walk about of the exhibition. The exhibition comprises art works created by the two artists during their entire art practice, including almost every sculpture that they made during their lifetimes.
“This is the first time that a book of this kind has been published in South Africa. The other day Jack Ginsberg, an experienced collector of art books, remarked to me that this was the first time that a book of this nature has been published in South Africa, and so did Karel Nel (Artist Wits Professor of fine art). It is a book of quality international standard,” said Watkins.
But then why the two artists and not others for example? I asked.
“Because these two artists were exceptionally good.” Both writers answered in unison.
Skinner added that the task was not an easy one though. “This is because we had to scan newspapers from the period, including The Transvaal, looking for anything written about the artists. You remember these were black artists mentored by three white men at a time in our history that was different from now. We therefore were interested in finding out what people said about these artists. Quite interestingly, everything that was said and written about them was positive, including by The Transvaal,” said Skinner.
The foreword of the book has been written by former President Kgalema Montlanthe.
“When we asked him and send him the manuscript, went straight into reading it and wrote the foreword. The only suggestion he made is for us to remove the term Non White, suggesting that instead we use the word black as that was fine,” Watkins said.