I've had the privilege of contributing to a project that can open travellers to new perspectives in a different way: through the eyes of artists. For those sensitive to travelling in an ethical manner, seeing the works of artists who are responding to and interpreting their landscape (physical, built, internal, historical, cultural, natural) provides a powerful, intuitive and emotional way to become familiar with a place that is 'other' than our own. I believe this is another way to open ourselves up to the wonderful possibilities that make travelling such an enriching activity and experience.
About A Country Imagined, from the series producers:
From the industrial mining landscapes that have inspired the novels of Nadine Gordimer and the drawings of William Kentridge – to the hills of the Kwa-Zulu Natal Midlands – the setting for Cry the Beloved Country and the harmonies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo – the South African landscape is extravagant and diverse. A Country Imagined takes us on a journey through South Africa and explores the landscapes that have inspired artists, writers, musicians and dancers for centuries.You can view the series trailer below:
Presented by one of South Africa’s most loved and famous musicians – Johnny Clegg – who is also an anthropologist – A Country Imagined takes us through South Africa’s most beautiful spaces – and through this, we explore the rich history of art and the “imaginings” of our society.
The programmes introduce us to South African artists and their work as well as the landscapes they work with. Some, like Nadine Gordimer, Olive Schreiner, Hugh Masekela, Gerard Sekoto, William Kentridge and David Goldblatt are known around the world. Others, will soon be. Some – like the bead workers and potters of remote rural villages have produced works without signatures. A Country Imagined brings them all together through a fascinating exploration of art and artists set against a backdrop of scenery and a vexed and dramatic history.
Shot on HD, with remarkable aerial, historical and time-lapse photography, A Country Imagined is a thirteen x one hour series.
The list of episodes and a synopsis of each is available here.
Information on how to order the DVDs is available here.
Finally, I have been considering taking the material from writing the documentary series and adapting it into a travel guide / art guide for South Africa. It would be great to get feedback from you about this idea. Please leave a comment.
(PS for the grammar police - yes, I know the title of this page should be Artists', but Blogger keeps turning that into an ASCII code, so aesthetics must trump grammar in this instance. Apologies.)
