T'KAMA-ADAMASTOR

T'kama-Adamastor, Inventions of Africa in a South African Painting, University of the Witswatersrand, introduction, notes, bibliography, figures, index, profusely illustrated, 188 pages, 270 x 310mm

In addition to his work as a portraitist, Coetzee was commissioned in 1996 by the University of the Witwatersrand to paint a 28 square meter canvas for the William Cullen Library, an internationally renowned archive, for the 75th celebrations of the University, which was unveiled in 1999. A large format art book focusing on the painting was published, elaborating on the themes, the commissioning and related works entitled: “T’kama –Adamastor: Inventions of Africa in a South African Painting” ( Ivan Vladislavić, ed.). (Source Cyril Coetzee website: https://cyrilcoetzee.com/)

The book includes a collection of essay contributions by Cyril Coetzee (the artist), Reingard Nethersole, Andre Brink, Andries Walter Oliphant, Daniel Herwitz, Malvern van Wyk Smith, Anthony Parr, karel Nel, Dan Wylie and Ivor Powell. It presents in South African terms a unique opportunity to explore the meanings of a single artwork.