ENCOUNTERS
ENCOUNTERS AT THE
WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK SOUTH AFRICA 28 January 2018 A ‘sculptural’ collaboration with www.sculpture-network.org Nemesia*Press_online 2018
CONTENTS Introduction Encounters: 1. Ceramic Matters 2. Patricia Davison 3. Klara Hettasch 4. Nicolaas Maritz The West Coast Fossil Park The Sculpture Network
INTRODUCTION Encounters at the West Coast Fossil Park In situ conversation The Fossil Park near Langebaanweg gives visitors a glimpse into the distant past. The fossilized bones of extinct animals that lived in the area 5.2 million years ago have been uncovered and present an extraordinary opportunity to think about the landscape before humans became part of the eco-system. Interacting with the fossil beds and the remains of extinct animals, such as shortnecked giraffes and sabre-toothed cats, may evoke different responses – both knowledge and imagination come into play. Palaeontological interpretation of the excavated bones gives scientific meaning to the fossil fauna but the site may also be experienced aesthetically as a poetic cultural landscape. A few reflections to consider: What is the relationship between experience and scientific interpretation? As artists, curators or writers, how do you respond to the Fossil Park? What is the interface between nature and culture in the fossil landscape? How would you represent the relationship between past and present? These are but a few notes to accompany your visit to the Fossil Park on 28 January 2018. Patricia Davison
1. CERAMIC MATTERS Anthony Harris & Gerhard Swart
The Heritage and the Legacy of Man. . . We were excited to see the excavations at the West Coast Fossil Park. Loved the extreme history and bones. Noted that while looking at the remains a cell phone kept disturbing the ancient site, yet it had a purpose to record. Thought the phone would become a fossil too. Intrigued with the natural monotone colour of the site and the fact that man had no say at that time. Ceramics has left a footprint and clues of man’s existence in subsequent history. We decided to work in the medium of clay to eternalize our experience at the Park. We used tiles to simulate the grid system evident at the digging site. The Heritage we found -
The legacy we/man leaves - the litter – do we treat nature with the respect it deserves or do we take what we want . . .
Format we worked in: – a grid. – Brush, Tags, Numbers, etc
built on the tiles layers of clay, slip and glaze poured and washed over so as to show the time process and the loss of detail over time. C and then to 1100°C for the final glazing. – the wealth it represents for man – what man amuses himself with and the cost – advanced communication at what cost to man/ environment – to prove the point, there were bears in Africa – the structure of what existed and still does. Natures “architecture” of structures that were. – often considered a scourge, but a necessary part of the cycle of life.
1. Enter
2. The site
3. The Grid
4. The grid reflected in the cool ing system
5. The Tiles
6. Adding onto the tiles
7. Greenware
8. Greenware detail
9. Greenware tiles
10. Bisque fired
11. Bisque detail
12. Slip poured over tiles
13. Slip fired onto bisque ware
14. Detail of fired slip
15. Detail of fired slip
16. Glazed detail
17. Glazed detail
Patricia Davison is an anthropologist, and currently a research associate at the Iziko Museums in Cape Town. Her research fields include material culture, history of collections and museum practice. In the newly established Honours in Curatorship course at UCT, she convened the module on 'Working with Museum Collections'. As one of the directors of the Iziko Museums from 2005 – 2010, her portfolio covered responsibility for collections, research, exhibition and education. She was a member of the Executive Committee and chair of the 'Core Functions' Committee. She selected a fitting poem by Vladimir Nabokov to accompany the other three encounters of this project.
2. PATRICIA DAVISON
In Paradise My soul, beyond distant death your image I see like this: a provincial naturalist, an eccentric lost in paradise. There, in a glade, a wild angel slumbers, a semi-pavonian creature. Poke at it curiously with your green umbrella, speculating how, first of all, you will write a paper on it then — But there are no learned journals, nor any readers in paradise!
And there you stand, not yet believing your wordless woe. About that blue somnolent animal whom will you tell, whom? Where is the world and the labeled roses, the museum and the stuffed birds? And you look and look through your tears at those unnamable wings. Vladimir Nabokov, from Collected Poems (2012), translated by Dmitri Nabokov, published by Penguin Classics, London.
Klara lives with her twin sister and family on the farm Arnelia, near Hopefield, Western Cape Province South Africa. She is a keen photographer.
3. KLARA HETTASCH
To view Klara’s FOSSIL PARK slideshow, please click on the link below: https://youtu.be/GzZzsQmDPvo
A view of the central exhibition hall of the West Coast Fossil Park interpretation centre, showing the creation of the shortnecked giraffe display in progress.
A section of the nocturnal display.
Fossil bones from the dig site.
4. NICOLAAS MARITZ
Nicolaas Maritz (born 9 July 1959) is a South African multi-media artist. His artistic roots are deeply embedded in the Southern African landscape. Drawing inspiration from its shapes and colours, its creatures and its sounds, he has, during a long career, created a unique body of work, instantly recognizable by virtue of the idiosyncrasy of his vision and the immediacy of the manner in which it is realized. Curious juxtapositions – of the real and the fantastical, the natural and the artificial, the simple and the complex, the humorous and the sinister – are a defining characteristic of Maritz’s art. FOSSIL LIGHT This video work features a sequence of sculptural sounds and images created in response to a visit to the WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK, near Cape Town, during January 2018. Each video section points to a different perceptual perspective, and is given deeper emotional identity with the addition of individual 'sculptural' soundtracks. The video tracks the vulnerability of fossils, as they move from anonymity through excavation and fresh discovery to dusty artefact.
A mirror image of the main tented dig.
A mirror image of the legs of the visiting group.
A mirror image of the smaller tented dig.
A mirror image of the wooden walkways at the dig sites.
A mirror image of a jaw bone fossil from the dig floor.
To view the FOSSIL LIGHT video, please click on the link below: https://youtu.be/KZR5cMWPzdo
THE WEST COAST FOSSIL PARK Visit the West Coast Fossil Park close to Langebaan, Western Cape, South Africa. See the fossils of bears, sabre-tooth cats, short-necked giraffes and the many other exotic animals which inhabited the west coast area some 5 million years ago. Directions: R45 Langebaanweg Vredenburg, West Coast 32°57'19.4"S | 18°6'49.9"E
Postal address: PO Box 42, Langebaanweg, 7375 Tel: +27 (0)22 766 1606 Fax: +27 (0)22 766 1765 info@fossilpark.org.za http://www.fossilpark.org.za/
www.sculpture-network.org “Sculpture network is Europe’s leading esteemed platform for three-dimensional art. A non-profit organisation for the support, encouragement and promotion of contemporary sculpture. Sculpture network is for: artists, art professionals, art mediators, organizations, institutions and friends of the arts. Around 44,000 people all over Europe, are currently connected through our newsletter, website and social media channels. In addition, we regularly organize local and international events, where the European sculpture community meet, network, discuss and enjoy sculpture. These occasions have led to numerous cross border and local projects. Sculpture network currently has 1,000 members in 40 countries. Once again, start'18 broke all records. More than 5.500 people gathered in nearly 100 locations in 22 countries
on the 28th of January 2018 to celebrate sculpture, art and friendship under the motto "sculpt the world". A unique day is behind us. What began very small over 10 years ago in the house of the sculpture network cofounder, Ralf Kirberg, with 79 people, has grown into an international event that connects people of different backgrounds and professions. Because art knows no boundaries! We are always impressed by the different approaches of our hosts how to embrace sculpture. From 7 people to 500, from the small get together in the studio, to a major special exhibition in a university, there was really everything that made the art lover's heart beat faster. The sculpture network team would like to once again thank all hosts, guests and helpers for this experience and hope that it will inspire others to become part of our family. If you would like to take a minute to get the impressions of this day, just follow this link: https://walls.io/start18 “
With a special word of thanks to Alfred Legner who organized the event.