Originally
created as far back as Egypt’s Second Dynasty,
metal wire has been a commodity of status and a valuable
trade item among Africa’s indigenous cultures
since ancient times. Wire anklets and bracelets found
in African archaeological excavations indicate that
these artifacts were often associated with burials,
offering a hint at the prestige they were accorded.
But not until the arrival of another great invention
could wire and color be blended into art.
In
the 1950s, resourceful Zulu artisans discovered and
began to use a new material to replace grass in their
woven izimbenge (beer pot covers). The thin wires
found inside telephone cables - each copper wire covered
with a thin jacket of brightly colored insulation
- afforded these artists a rich, rainbowlike palette
for their creations. By the 1980s, the insulation
on the wires had improved in quality and longevity,
allowing the craft of weaving recycled telephone wire
to evolve into fine art. The thirty works featured
in this book of postcards are courtesy of the BAT
Shop in Durban, South Africa. The BAT Shop is affiliated
with the Bartel Arts Trust, a nonprofit community
arts center promoting South Africa’s emerging
artists.
30
full-color reproductions bound in a handy oversized
postcard collection. 17.5cm x 12cm |
AF-156
Book of 30 Postcards - Zulu Designs
£7 (€10.50)
|
