I think my place in society should be like that of a termite in an ant hill. My thoughts are not because they carve wood, nor because they are sometimes destructive little pests, but because I like the image of a humble worker steadily building.
The ant may be insignificant but he makes a fantastic structure by carrying grains of sand and wood one at a time (from your house to his). We, like the ants, should participate in some small way to constructing a better world. Perhaps it is self serving but I would like to live in and leave behind a kinder, happier and culturally richer domain.
Much of my white ant soul has been with the African Art Centre, a development agency. It was initially set up by the Race Relations Institute more than 50 years ago with the aim of promoting art and providing work, financial independence and dignity through art. In the distant past I have exhibited and sold work through the Centre. I have served on the board of directors for more than ten years and recently I was elected as Chairman of the Board.
I am delighted and a little nervous. At the time of my election I had the thought that the board had elected a Mr Bean. This was because I am aware of my own failings, intimidated by the wealth of talent on the board and admire the dedicated and hard working staff. However, I realise that what is required is a team effort as that will ensure the continuation of the good work already done.
The ant is not an image I have used often although they have appeared in some of the trees I have made. Trees and the wild life therein are a symbol of community for me. My recent work Fight or Flight is an example. When I was full of optimism for our rainbow nation my trees were filled with insects, animals and birds, happily coexisting. However since then the fauna in the trees has diminished and they usually have a predator amongst them. In this bone work the threat is a leopard, an animal that I associate with stealth and cunning. I have occasionally carved a lion, like the Iron Lion, a new work carved from lump of ironstone that I found in Howick. However, the lion is an image I associate with power and leadership and differs from the leopard.
I have sculpted a few works in stone, stones like serpentine, limestone, sandstone and granite, but the ironstone is by far the hardest. I started using this material because I liked the organic shapes which made them suitable for my mounts and even though the work was minimal, the stone required diamond tipped tools in order to dress them. Now, having acquired those tools, I am presented with an opportunity to sculpt something a little different.
I, like most artists, am regularly tithed. This has nothing to do with my religious beliefs. The tithe or tax is collected by charities that regularly ask artists for donations. I like to participate, even when it is more than I can afford. In the past month I have donated works to Every One Counts and will be participating in the Wildlands Art for Conservation to be held at the Spier Estate in April, 2010. These charitable events are a great way for collectors to do a good deed, acquire works cheaply and in some cases you may even be able to put the amount spent against your income tax.
I will not tell the wildlife people that as a small boy and a destructive little pest, I used to catch large, shiny, black safari ants, make them bite the hem of my shorts and break off their bodies. The aim was to have a row of gleaming ant heads decorating my shorts.
The ants have taken their revenge. They have steadily been eating and undermining my home. Then some time ago, at three in the morning, my doorbell started ringing. At first I reasoned it was a mistake, but when it persisted I thought it might be the police. Eventually, seething with anger, I roared up the drive to the gate only to find no one there. It left me in a confused rage. The following day the doorbell was rung again but this time I could see that no one was at the gate. I unscrewed the intercom to investigate and as I opened it ants poured out to defend their nest.
The incident has made me think. Our communities do not need the self-serving, parading and clowning of a Mr Bean that we see all too often. What it desperately needs are those people with the self sacrificing and workmanlike mindset of the ant that quietly gets on with the job.
Regards
Carl
