FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUED BY: JACKIE KILCULLEN
TEL: 686 8845 OR CELL: 083 4881177
E-MAIL: kilcullen@iafrica.com
ON BEHALF OF QUIVERTREE PUBLICATIONS
FIRST THERE WAS SHACK CHIC
NOW MUD IS THE NEW CHIC AND LATEST TITLE
BY QUIVERTREE PUBLICATIONS
The wonder of it, a hut made of the most basic of materials
Earth and things from the earth
Knit and woven together. By the ingenuity of love and
the inexhaustible imagination of the human spirit……..
SINDIWE MAGONA
Mud Chic is an inspiring photographic expression of the lifestyle and adornment of the traditional Xhosa culture in the old transkei and will form part of a visual exhibit at the first International Book Fair in Cape Town from 17 – 21 June.
Mud Chic is photographer Craig Fraser's answer to "where is home?" , the question he asked the people he photographed in Quivertree's first publication, Shack Chic.
" I felt the need to explore 'home' to understand the attachment that the urban shack dwellers feel for their rural roots" says Craig.
In Xhosa Culture the headman and elders of the tribe hold the key to all knowledge. In this compelling visual journey to the traditional dwellings and homesteads of the old Transkei, photographer Craig Fraser has elevated these rural abodes to a similar status. For the design, layout and materials used in these humble homes reveal much more than mere structure.
They reveal that dire poverty does little to dampen the irrepressible human impulse to adorn and beautify. Here the realities of daily life are manifest in no running water, no electricity and scant employment. And yet using little more than materials found in nature or sourced from the surrounding environment, the personality of each homeowner is expressed in a rich, elaborate vocabulary of symbols, geometric patterns, colour and decorative detail that is uniquely individual to each.
Quivertree is presenting a visual display of a selection of images from Mud Chic and Shack Chic at the Cape Town International Book Fair (CTIBF). Limited edition prints from both books will be available for the first time.
The exhibition in the foyer of the CTICC will take the form of a spiral design, presenting 'Shack Chic' on the outside and 'Mud Chic' on the inside creating an interactive space. The haunting voice of Langa born Henry Jeane will be heard as you view the images. Henry has a music school in Langa and takes part in musical workshops for tourists. He grew up surrounded by music and taught himself guitar made from an old oil can. Kwela music is his speciality and love. His favourite instrument and one that can be heard in the exhibition piece is an 'imbira'. Henry says, 'I love music, it frees you, throughout Africa music has been used to heal and to connect with the ancestors.'
Quivertree's exhibition was made possible by the Department of Arts and Culture, the Cape Town International Book Fair who donated the floor space, Creative Colour and Rays Photo control.
Quivertree is barely four years old. However it has captured much local and international media attention since it launched its first title, Shack Chic in 2002. Shack Chic was labelled 'totally mesmerising' by London Magazine. A coup for Quivertree was the sale of English rights to Thames and Hudson, a sure indication of the importance of the book. It also formed a major part of an exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, at the meeting of the UN-Habitat delegation. It prompted the Executive Director to say 'Those photographs will remain as constant reminders for all of us that by the year 2020 we will have to change the lives of 100 million slum dwellers. The hopes and strength in the lives of those people will be our guide while continuing to work towards creating better habitats within cities.'
Every year NOVIB (a Dutch company and the sister company to OXFAM) chooses one book to send to all members. Shack Chic was chosen, and so a print run of 21500 was undertaken in a Dutch translation.
More recently their latest book, Feast, by Franck Dangereux, was proclaimed one of the three best chef books in the world in 2004, at the 10th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards on February 11 in Sweden, with over 375 people from 29 countries attending, including England, Australia, Switzerland, Russia, France and more.
[press release on request]
The comments on the International Jury were:
"Creativity at its best, combining great technique and ingredients in a show of excellence in Africa"
During the exhibition in Sweden with the other Best Books in the World, "Feast" was also admired for its excellent front cover and all-over design, which was exceptional.
this award reminds us that Quivertree is here to stay as a quality publisher, producing books that leave their mark. As Libby Doyle of Quivertree says: "While there is certainly stimulation to be found in the rest of the world, South Africa has much to offer. There are so many contradictions and contrasts that make it such an exciting and yet disturbing place. It makes for a very interesting and inspiring country."
Other titles from Quivertree: Home, Cape Town and Wild Iris, herbal handbook. They are also the distributors of South, by Karen Roos and Annemarie Meintjies
ISSUED BY: JACKIE KILCULLEN
TEL: 686 8845 OR CELL: 083 4881177
E-MAIL: kilcullen@iafrica.com
ON BEHALF OF QUIVERTREE PUBLICATIONS
FIRST THERE WAS SHACK CHIC
NOW MUD IS THE NEW CHIC AND LATEST TITLE
BY QUIVERTREE PUBLICATIONS
The wonder of it, a hut made of the most basic of materials
Earth and things from the earth
Knit and woven together. By the ingenuity of love and
the inexhaustible imagination of the human spirit……..
SINDIWE MAGONA
Mud Chic is an inspiring photographic expression of the lifestyle and adornment of the traditional Xhosa culture in the old transkei and will form part of a visual exhibit at the first International Book Fair in Cape Town from 17 – 21 June.
Mud Chic is photographer Craig Fraser's answer to "where is home?" , the question he asked the people he photographed in Quivertree's first publication, Shack Chic.
" I felt the need to explore 'home' to understand the attachment that the urban shack dwellers feel for their rural roots" says Craig.
In Xhosa Culture the headman and elders of the tribe hold the key to all knowledge. In this compelling visual journey to the traditional dwellings and homesteads of the old Transkei, photographer Craig Fraser has elevated these rural abodes to a similar status. For the design, layout and materials used in these humble homes reveal much more than mere structure.
They reveal that dire poverty does little to dampen the irrepressible human impulse to adorn and beautify. Here the realities of daily life are manifest in no running water, no electricity and scant employment. And yet using little more than materials found in nature or sourced from the surrounding environment, the personality of each homeowner is expressed in a rich, elaborate vocabulary of symbols, geometric patterns, colour and decorative detail that is uniquely individual to each.
Quivertree is presenting a visual display of a selection of images from Mud Chic and Shack Chic at the Cape Town International Book Fair (CTIBF). Limited edition prints from both books will be available for the first time.
The exhibition in the foyer of the CTICC will take the form of a spiral design, presenting 'Shack Chic' on the outside and 'Mud Chic' on the inside creating an interactive space. The haunting voice of Langa born Henry Jeane will be heard as you view the images. Henry has a music school in Langa and takes part in musical workshops for tourists. He grew up surrounded by music and taught himself guitar made from an old oil can. Kwela music is his speciality and love. His favourite instrument and one that can be heard in the exhibition piece is an 'imbira'. Henry says, 'I love music, it frees you, throughout Africa music has been used to heal and to connect with the ancestors.'
Quivertree's exhibition was made possible by the Department of Arts and Culture, the Cape Town International Book Fair who donated the floor space, Creative Colour and Rays Photo control.
Quivertree is barely four years old. However it has captured much local and international media attention since it launched its first title, Shack Chic in 2002. Shack Chic was labelled 'totally mesmerising' by London Magazine. A coup for Quivertree was the sale of English rights to Thames and Hudson, a sure indication of the importance of the book. It also formed a major part of an exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya, at the meeting of the UN-Habitat delegation. It prompted the Executive Director to say 'Those photographs will remain as constant reminders for all of us that by the year 2020 we will have to change the lives of 100 million slum dwellers. The hopes and strength in the lives of those people will be our guide while continuing to work towards creating better habitats within cities.'
Every year NOVIB (a Dutch company and the sister company to OXFAM) chooses one book to send to all members. Shack Chic was chosen, and so a print run of 21500 was undertaken in a Dutch translation.
More recently their latest book, Feast, by Franck Dangereux, was proclaimed one of the three best chef books in the world in 2004, at the 10th Gourmand World Cookbook Awards on February 11 in Sweden, with over 375 people from 29 countries attending, including England, Australia, Switzerland, Russia, France and more.
[press release on request]
The comments on the International Jury were:
"Creativity at its best, combining great technique and ingredients in a show of excellence in Africa"
During the exhibition in Sweden with the other Best Books in the World, "Feast" was also admired for its excellent front cover and all-over design, which was exceptional.
this award reminds us that Quivertree is here to stay as a quality publisher, producing books that leave their mark. As Libby Doyle of Quivertree says: "While there is certainly stimulation to be found in the rest of the world, South Africa has much to offer. There are so many contradictions and contrasts that make it such an exciting and yet disturbing place. It makes for a very interesting and inspiring country."
Other titles from Quivertree: Home, Cape Town and Wild Iris, herbal handbook. They are also the distributors of South, by Karen Roos and Annemarie Meintjies
