Book Reviews by Bibliophilia

BOOK REVIEWS WITH www.bibliophilia.co.za

Structures of Dominion and Democracy

Structures of Dominion and Democracy is a selective retrospective of David Goldblatt, with texts by Golblatt and essays by Ivor Powell and Karolina Ziebinska-Lewandowska that explore the photographer’s work in the context of South African political and cultural history, as well as his contribution to the wider history of photography. Starting from his earliest photographic searchings, it shows the foundations of Goldblatt’s critical passion for photography, his social sensitivity and political consciousness. Reproducing original handmade dummies and working plates, the process of bookmaking and other diverse applications of these often iconic images are laid bare. Some of Goldblatt’s most recent photographs, always in tight relation to the changing situation in South Africa, are included alongside assembles of Goldblatt’s influential series including “On the Mines,” “Some Afrikaners” and “Structures” with some less well-known including “Kas Maine,” and reconstructs the history of their first publication in the international press. (R1300)

The Garden at Babylonstoren

The mostly edible garden of Babylonstoren in the Drakenstein Valley of the Cape Winelands has become a must-see for all visitors to the region. Not simply because it is beautiful, but because it offers a mesmerising range of experiences to both the day tripper and hotel guest, encompassing history, insight into the workings of a productive farm and food garden, and how the land can be cultivated along diversified yet integrated principles. As co-author Franchesca Watson says, ‘The way Babylonstoren expresses itself visually is inordinately charming. Every material is simple and intrinsic, nothing is smart or clever or tacky, everything is understandable and filled with sincerity; it is a generous place.’ The Garden at Babylonstoren is visually stunning and covers every aspect of the 3.5-hectare garden: its design, Cape Dutch history, plants, cultivation methods and the people behind it all. (R400)

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