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David Krut Publishing is pleased to announce the release of a Compendium of TAXI Art Books Educational Supplements, which accompanies the TAXI Art Books series of publications on contemporary South African artists, but is also a stand-alone book for the classroom.

The TAXI series, with associated Educational Supplements, was launched in 2000 and comprises thirteen monographs on South African artists. Each Supplement presents an introduction to and explanation of the artist’s unique working method. This is followed by a number of worksheets containing conceptual and practical projects that refer to the artist. The Compendium combines all thirteen supplements, offering detailed, challenging, learner-orientated worksheets on South African artists Diane Victor, Sandile Zulu, Willem Boshoff, Deborah Bell, Kagiso Pat Mautloa, Steven Cohen, Noria Mabasa, David Koloane, Lien Botha, Santu Mofokeng, Jeremy Wafer, Samson Mudzunga and Jo Ractliffe.

In the Compendium, ‘exam-type’ questions are avoided in favour of a learner-focused approach to art teaching. Learners – and their teachers – are encouraged to draw on their own resources of imagination and experience and, through discussion, collaboration and reflection, are given the opportunity to get to know and appreciate the artists and the work represented in the Compendium. Interesting tasks will alert the learner to the importance of understanding the social and political environment in which each artist works. Learners will be encouraged to think critically and question the artists’ actions, thereby understanding the importance of carefully considering their own art-making decisions. Tasks will also focus on building visual literacy and writing skills. Group discussions and the promotion of individual viewpoints are intended to encourage learners to understand the importance of personal experience and cultural identity in their own approach to art-making.

The Compendium is designed primarily for the Visual Arts subject at senior schools but is easily adapted for informal art training at community centres and for post-matriculation study. Although this is an art resource, the opportunities for subject integration will also be useful for teachers of Language Studies, Life Orientation and Human and Social Sciences.

The TAXI Art Book series has been sponsored by Pro Helvetia - Arts Council of Switzerland, the French Institute, the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the Arts and Culture Trust, the National Arts Council and David Krut Arts Resource, and is published by David Krut Publishing.

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Keywords: Bronwyn Law-Viljoen, David-Koloane, Deborah-Bell, Diane-Victor, Jeremy-Wafer, Jo Ratcliffe, Kagiso-Pat-Mautloa, Lien-Botha, Noria-Mabasa, Samson-Mudzunga