Five large-scale etchings produced as part of The Animal Series (2013 – 2014) Johan Thom with Diane Victor, Willem Boshoff, David Koloane, Bevan De Wet
For this leg of the project Johan Thom collaborated with a number of artists to produce works that address the encounter with the elephant skull and each other. Thom prepared the etching plates specifically keeping in mind the work of the collaborating partner. Once the plates were prepared the artists were invited to come spend some time viewing, drawing and photographing the elephant skull at the Nirox Foundation. For example in the case of the work of Willem Boshoff Thom prepared scratched the copper etching plate with the elephant skull, spinning it atop the mirror like, yellow surface for a number of hours. In turn Boshoff overlaid the printed image with a target such as may be found on a hunting rifle. However in keeping with his linguistic approach to artistic practice Boshoff used a number of small, black three dimensonal plastic letters to construct the shape. For the Diane Victor’s print Thom made a full body print by covering himself in condensed milk and crawling across the plate. At this point Victor responded in her signature realist style, drawing the skull in immaculate detail atop the ghostly human figure.
All the etchings are approximately 2 x 1 metres in size with an edition of 6.
Johan Thom
Animal, 2013
Body print, etching and drypoint by Johan Thom
108 x 198cm
Johan Thom & Diane Victor
Swimming/ Drowning, 2013
Body print by Johan Thom and etching by Diane Victor
195 x 108cm
Johan Thom & Bevan De Wet
Skull, 2013
Embossed body print in white by Johan Thom with etching by Bevan De Wet
195 x 108cm
Johan Thom & David Koloane
Ear, 2013
Etching by Johan Thom with drypoint by David Koloane
195 x 108 cm
