iJusi Portfolio Catalogues
Originally commissioned and published by the Johannesburg-based Rooke Gallery in 2011, this three-part series of catalogues was designed, written, and crafted by Gilgamesh. Later republished by Rooke & Van Wyk (R&VW) in 2013, these catalogues detail the reasons for each portfolio to exist, providing information about each artist and their individual contributions within each portfolio. The portfolio's were an offshoot of Garth Walker's iJusi magazine, and sales were meant to help fund the ongoing production of the world-renowned South African design publication.
The catalogues were available in print, still are digitally, and play a supporting role to the portfolios, providing access and generating awareness. They were mostly available at art fairs or sent as direct mail to collectors. Much like iJusi magazine, the portfolios were an attempt to create a dialogue about the South African design vernacular, packaging it as a collectable yet affordable 'gallery-in-a-box' to the broader art market. At the 2012 Joburg Art Fair the then director of Tate Modern, Chris Dercon, described the portfolio's as "the democratisation of art" to CNN, exemplifying the important message that iJusi shares with the world about South Africa's creative potential.
iJusi Portfolio no.1
This portfolio was a collection of the most prolific contributors to iJusi magazine, including some of the most important creatives in South African advertising, design, publishing, and art at the time. The catalogue serves to introduce the portfolio, contextualising it within the iJusi canon. Contributors included: Garth Walker, Conrad Botes, Anton Kannemeyer, Brode Vosloo, Mark Kannemeyer, Brandt Botes, Wilhelm Kruger, Pieter Hugo, Mikael Subotsky, and David Goldblatt. This was the only portfolio that Garth added one of his own works to.
To read there catalogue, click here.
Garth Walker
Conrad Botes
Anton Kannemeyer
iJusi Portfolio no.2
This volume included a blend of emerging and established, local and international artists and designers. Unlike the previous portfolio, this volume was not restricted to contributors of iJusi magazine alone, opening the selection to a more pluralistic approach, allowing the older creatives to support and uplift the younger ones. The variety continues with an eclectic mix of fine art, graphic design, illustration, printmaking, and photography, combining both commercial and conceptual work. Contributors to this portfolio include: Roger Ballen, Jonathan Barnbrook, Willem Boshoff, David Goldblatt, Warwick Kay, William Kentridge, Michael MacGarry, Sne Mtetwa, Stefan Sagmeister, and Guy Tillim.
To read there catalogue, click here.
Willem Boshoff
William Kentridge
Stefan Sagmeister
iJusi Portfolio no.3
The third and final catalogue focussed on Garth's passion for photography. Filled with a veritable who's who of South African photographers, this catalogue highlights the importance of South African photography, and the wealth of talent that now influences the globe. Contributors to this portfolio include: Dean Hutton, David Goldblatt, Zanele Muholi, Sabelo Mlangeni, Mikhael Subotzky, Roger Ballen, Jabulani Patrick Dhlamini, Daniel Naude, Jo Ractliffe, Pieter Hugo.
To read there catalogue, click here.
David Goldblatt
Sabelo Mlangeni
Roger Ballen
Thank You!
For more about the iJusi portfolios, see: www.ijusi.com
Check out Gilgamesh's site here: www.gilgamesh.co.za
Now defunct, Rooke Gallery's site is still up: www.rookegallery.com