Grade 12 2014 Term 1 Test Feedback: African South Artists Inspired by African Art Forms

Grade 12 2014 Term 1 Test Feedback: African South Artists Inspired by African Art Forms


 Sleeping by Andries Botha 1985

Question 1.1 required you to identify and explain the meaning of various elements and principles in Andries Botha’s sculpture.  To score full marks you needed to explain what the various elements and principles in the artwork could mean.

For example: The vertical lines of the wattle create the mood of a cage or raised platform. The height of the sticks creates a sense of the figure being important or that the figure is afraid and sleeps on a raised platform to protect oneself. The golden colour of the figure could represent a sunset or royalty and Botha’s use of natural browns creates a sense that the figure is one with the environment.  The concept of a sunset could link to the ending of one’s life and how the title sleeping could represent death.  The texture of the grass looks smooth and soft and reinforces the idea of a soft mattress or the softness of a relaxed figure. The  form of the sculpture is based on Botha’s body proportions, thus one gets the sense that the figure is alive/human and one could have a conversation with the figure as it exists in actual space. Triangular shape extending from the figure could represent the rise and fall of one’s breath or a protective covering placed over the form. 

Question 1.2:

You needed to identify various visual clues that created different emotions for the viewers.

For example, the natural colours and lightness of the grass creates a sense of peacefulness and calm.  The horizontal lines emphasis the sense of peace and rest, yet the contrast of the dark wattle poles creates a sense of tension and anxiety, as they could represent a cage or prison.  The Figure is on a raised platform and this reminds us of how various cultures honour the dead by placing them on platforms and covering them in a mummy type shroud.  The use of grass and sticks could represent how cultures light bodies and this creates a mood of mourning and sadness.  The golden colour could also represent celebrating someone’s life.  Botha has used traditional South African techniques and materials and this creates a sense of pride in one’s country.

Please note a sculpture is an art object and a basket is applied art or a functional craft object.  Therefore Botha is the sculptor and we asked you to write about his Sleeping sculpture.  The picture of Reuben Ndwandwe was a clue on which local techniques inspired Botha.

Link to Mrs Moore's comments on Question 2