The annual KKNK (Klein Karoo National Arts Festival) came to an end yesterday. I was fortunate to be included in a group exhibition during this years festival.

The exhibition was called: “Huisgenoot, Hargenoot, Kultuurgenoot – 100 jaar” curated by Sandra Hanekom. With this exhibition the “Huisgenoot” was celebrated for bringing stories to South Africans for the past 100 years and artists were invited to re-interpret the art of South African Masters that used to feature in the Huisgenoot in the past.

I was given the artist Maggie Laubser to revisit. I chose this iconic Self-portrait by her:

Self-Portrait by Maggie Laubser 1928

Met Rubber en gare herbesoek Hannalie Taute die ou Suid-Afrikaanse meester, Maggie Laubser se werk. Sy put inspirasie uit Maggie Laubser se selfportret van 1928. Nou, 88 jaar later probeer Taute om haar eie self-portret te borduur met kleur gare wat min of meer ooreenstem met die kleure wat Maggie Laubser in haar eie skildery gebruik het.  Hiermee probeer sy nie net om die meester na te boots nie, maar ook om haarself te vervorm tot die eksotiese blik van die ‘ander’- om na haarself te kyk deur die oë van Maggie Laubser, en om ʼn “gevoel” te kry oor hoe die meester haarself met kleur gesien het en te vra….”wat het ek en Maggie in gemeen?”

work in progress

So the biggest challenge was to try and re-create my Self-portrait with the same colours that Maggie used in hers, but instead of oils, I used thread. Sitting in the same position. Wondering what do we really have in common? I did realise that it is much harder to try and “be” someone else than I thought.

Self-portrait after Maggie Laubser 2016 (cotton thread and rubber)