Sue Williamson is an artist, writer, innovator, activist, and a whole heap of other great things all at once. Usually, I hate pretentious lists of nouns to describe people and what they do – readers tend to slough off that kind of information and take in more about what they really do.
However, in Sue’s case, these are hats she has worn for decades – and she has played a huge role in shaping South African identity and art here, and overseas, during the struggle, and afterwards. Her books, sites and work have showcased art, artists and lives with a kind of “speaking back” to perception of “who and what” beyond the “where and why”. I could go on for pages about her extensive contributions, and I’m sure I only know the tip of the iceberg….
Included is the powerful video and print series, Better Lives, commissioned by Africalia for the mega show ‘Transferts’ at the Palais de Beaux Arts in Brussels and shown on the Dakar Biennale last year. This is work in the tradition of questions Williamson has been asking for years. Simple and beautiful, the images are subtle, while the sound and text evocative.
But what I really enjoyed was the fact that an artist as profound and talented as this has not lost her sense of humor. Her Kebble-award winning piece welcome to the jet hotel, is a witty infomercial for a bad inn she stayed at while travelling, and the surrounding postcards and installations are quirky invitations to join her in the trip. (Pictured at top, the artist with some of that work.)
This show is just as worth seeing out of respect for the artist, as it is for respect of her work.
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