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An introduction to the Pre-Crapalites: The return of Johan Engels and Robert Whitehead

Johan Engels and Robert Whitehead were invited into the studio in early 2006 for an introduction to etching. Since we knew that both were from creative backgrounds in set design and acting, we highly anticipated the outcome and have not been disappointed. Johan began a series of etchings that draw inspiration from a project on the TRC that he has been working on during his recent visits to SA, and Robert playfully explored layered mark making for portraiture. During Johan’s last visit to JHB, a new idea about collaboration began to emerge, though we are all still slightly baffled as to how it will evolve, and the two artists are not doing anything to allay our curiosity other than to drop hints of ideas and murmurs of mayhem. They are, it seems, at work on a project that will involve more than just art creation. The name “Pre-Crapalites” emerges during conversation but not ony do we not know how to spell the term but we are uncertain as to its deeper meaning. We wait with baited breath for the mystery to unravel…

Keywords: Acting, art-on-paper, David-Krut, Design, Johan-Engels, Portraiture, Pre-Crapalites, Print Workshop, robert-whitehead, TRC