Taxi Art Books : Background

The TAXI ART Books series was initiated in 2000 by the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), and PRO HELVETIA–Arts Council of Switzerland, and published by David krut Publishing. Shortly after the project commenced, additional funding for the books was provided by the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) and The Royal Netherlands Embassy in association with the Arts & Culture Trust, and David Krut Arts Resource.

TAXI-013 book on Diane Victor is funded by The Royal Netherlands Embassy in association with the Arts & Culture Trust and David Krut Arts Resource. It was published in March 2008.

The TAXI ART BOOKS series aims to extend the profile of South African artists, both locally and abroad, and to develop an active educational programme and teaching resource archive. Each monograph in the series is accompanied by an Educational Supplement that provides teachers and students with educational material. These supplements contain worksheets for art students and guidelines for teachers. They are designed specifically for broad subject integration in senior high school curricula and can be adapted for informal art training as well as tertiary institutions.

An independent advisory committee selects artists who have created a substantial body of work but have no monograph published on their art. A new author is commissioned to write the text for each book, which has meant that the project has given writers a forum for their work. In addition the project has created opportunities for book designers and others working in the publishing and related industries.

Featured artists in the series include: Diane Victor, Sandile Zulu, Willem Boshoff, Deborah Bell, Pat Mautloa, Steven Cohen, Noria Mabasa, David Koloane, Lien Botha, Santu Mofokeng, Jeremy Wafer, Samson Mudzunga and Jo Ractliffe.