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White Guilt

Item date(s): 2016

Nico Ras


Medium: Fabriano; acetate
Pages: 295 x 165
Binding: Faux leather cover - beige
Technique: Drawing ink
Edition: Unique

Type: Codex
Theme(s): White guilt. Self censorship

Place publication: Johannesburg
Publisher: The artist
Exhibition 2017

Reference note:
A pull-open style book with 'white' skin-textured covers and 'white guilt' branded into the cover. The book is held together by black threads, which run through the pages of the book, and which are tied together on the front cover.

Using myself as subject I drew inkblot-inspired drawings to symbolize subjective imagery. How images hidden in inkblot cards are subjective, may or may not be seen by an individual and differ from person to person. I've linked that to the racial situation in South Africa and also how racism towards Caucasians is often overlooked; may or may not be seen; how it can be subjective, how it is sometimes not viewed as racism because of the white skin.

Transparent acetate sheets contain blacked-out lines which serve as a way to censor things in the articles printed below them. When lifted up one can still see the original article.



Exhibition notes:
‘Booknesses: Contemporary South African Artist's Books’.

FADA Gallery, University of Johannesburg.

Curated by David Paton and Eugene Hon.

24 March - 5 May 2017



Ref: DP/17065















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