Shona sculpture

Third in a series of three

If there is much darkness in the modern history of Africa there is a light on the artists of Shonaland in Zimbabwe.

The tryst of sad lovers

Rest your beak on head …

He who cherishes life within him

A winged leg!

She who ponders life

Women in discussion

Those who long

He who guards what is valuable

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes  /  Bridgewater, Somerset West 

See too:  Shona Magic    http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com    17.2.2018  x 2

My photographs, published by RotsWolk Publishers

Deep comfort

Shona sculpture

Second in a series of three

The setting of Kirstenbosch Gardens lends a majesty to the sculptures, a rare experience.  And one sees soon that these works come from a deep source which may be something like unbuntu  –  we are people because of people.

AIDS sufferers in support of one another.

In the company of women

Mother and child, a recurring theme.  I wonder about that brick on the head.

A Picasso-esque head

A young man supports his ageing father

Man and nature

The counter of coins

©   Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes  /  Bridgewater, Somerset West 

March, 2022

See too:  Shona Magic   www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com    17.2.2018  x 2

My photographs, published by RotsWolk Publishers

And the lovers …

Shona sculpture

First in a series of three

I published two posts on Shona sculpture in February, 2018, dsicovering then that my archive had more images on the subject.  I share some of these.

Shona sculpture makes evident for me the potential that art has to comfort, to heal and to encourage.

It is a folk art, coming from a community of artists in Zimbabwe.  In the Western world art, it seems to me, tends toward pure form while the Shona artists remain in the human sphere – expressive, yes, surreal at times, but never far from the human realm.

Never far from the concerns of people, what affects their lives and most often, what ultimately touches humanity.

There is fertility …

There is misery …

There is support where it is needed …

There is ecstasy …

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes  /  Bridgewater, Somerset West 

February, 2022

See too:  Shona Magic   www;willwilltravel.wordpress.com     17. 2.2018 x 2

My photographs published by RotsWolk Publishers

And a world of dreams …

Fish as art

First in a series of two 

I write this post a year before it will appear (18.11.20).  This comes as a result of nearing the end of the strangest of years 2020, not the most difficult, but distinctly odd  –  a year in which you hesitate to go for a walk because you might be caught and fined, a year in which I can count on one hand with fingers to spare the times I have gone further than my immediate neighbourhood, times when I greeted people with my elbow.  Thus, in this time, I went back, sifting through my archive of photographs.  I came across my visit to the Aquarium at the Waterfront in Cape Town.  Most of my pics were an out-of-focus mess, but some, I think, were reasonable.  I share them.

 

 

 

 

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes

December, 2021

 

My photographs, published by RotsWolk Publishers, Cape Town

 

 

Anton Smit Paintings

Third in a series of three

Anton Smit does do abstract work, but I have not seen any of it.  It would seem that his profound interest is in the human form and especially the visage.  One can speculate about the recurring theme of joining heads.  I apologize for the angled images, not sure what I was trying to do.

 

 

 

 

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com 

Les Semboules, Antibes

September, 2021

 

My photographs

 

 

 

Anton Smit Figures

Second in a series of three

I share some of the memorable figures I saw.  The two images that follow are striking for many reasons.  Something I found interesting is that the figure seems to be clothed (is it his skin?) in a kind of ritual garb.

 

 

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes

September, 2021

 

My photographs

 

 

I found this poster impressive.  It advertises Anton’s work with his son Lionel’s (born 1982).  Lionel is also an internationally-renowned sculptor.  They often mount exhibitions together.  

 

Sculpture at the Rupert Museum

My visit to the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch some years ago was mainly for the extensive Rodin exhibition.  This was impressive and much gratitude to the Rupert Foundation for making this possible.  At the same time the rest of the museum had content that was memorable, some of the great names of South African art.

Head, by Anton Smit

 

Mother, by Käthe Kollwitz, 1927

 

Work by Quin

 

Visage, Kumalo, 1961

 

Dancer, Joshua Sithole

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes

August, 2021

 

My photographs / graphics

 

 

 

Magnificent obsession

Third in a series of three

The lounge has ND’s extensive display of tiles which I wrote about earlier on.  I share some of the other objects.

An antique piece of glass work (the form has a specific name, but it eludes me).   This is in the window of the lounge.

 

Here are the other glass pieces on display in the windows.  The lattice work is on the wall outside the lounge.

 

ND typically juxtaposes clashing images.  These rather busy-bird tiles are offset by an eggshell (?) painting.

 

My photograph of this marvellous painting above the fireplace does not do it justice.  A most harmonious image.

 

Peacock feather randomly displayed.

 

ND’s fascination for the bizarre  –  container of eyes!

 

Perhaps the peacock on these tiles left its feather in the lounge.

 

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes

June, 2021

 

My photographs

Note:  to see something of the tile collection you may refer to    Art Nouveau teëls   on http://www.bosvirkuns.wordpress.com  11.6.2021 and 18.6.2021  

 

 

Magnificent obsession

Second in a series of three

For my friend ND the kitchen is not merely a place of useful things.  It will have in it the beautiful, the rare and the unusual.  I share objects from my record of the kitchen.

Appropriately, a pewter plate for “Daily Bread”.

 

An intricately carved wooden plate.

 

A similarly-carved wooden plate with a folk art bird.

 

Let’s call this an objet d’art in pewter with no obvious use.

 

A wooden relief work

 

This elegant, antique grinder of some sort.

 

An old-fashioned scale with the photographer reflected in it.

 

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes

June, 2021

 

My photographs 

 

Magnificent obsession

First in a series of three

I have never seen a home like this in my life.  To call it a museum is to limit it.  This is the home of my lifelong friend ND in Cape Town.  For many years it has been the place of a relentless collector with a sharp eye for the beautiful, the rare and the unusual.  In recent times there has been talk that he and his wife will crate the contents and  move to a smaller place.  For the record, I hurried to capture what I could and could kick myself because quite a few objects are out of focus.  Still, I share what I have of this magnificent obsession.

And everywhere, the books, the books.  He was an editor for several publishing companies in his time and added books to the collection.   The following pics, mainly ceramics, are in the dining room.

Here you can see the range of interest in the backdrop of books to this rather quirky horse:   The Oxford Book of Villains, (significantly) a book on Collecting, Human Origins Reconsidered, etc.

Ceramic pots in a Japanese style.

The contrast of these two women figures I find fascinating.

By contrast, this rather grotesque visage.

The glaze on this vase is striking.

An engraved vase with a South African theme.

I’m not sure but I think this figure has something to do with Neptune.

If this well-worn, well-used object once had a practical use, it is certainly not on display for that.  It’s just an elegant object.

This is for me one of the most remarkable pieces in the house  –  a man against the wind.

©  Will

http://www.willwilltravel.wordpress.com

Les Semboules, Antibes

June, 2021

My photographs

On the dining-room table, just because …