Context (CMS Context)
(Bio) Nhlanhla Xaba was a hugely important figure in the printmaking in post-Apartheid South Africa. He co-founded Artists Proof Studio with Kim Berman who had left the country to live in Boston and worked with Artist Proof studio there. Responding to Nelson Mandela's call for expatriate South Africans to return and help build the nation, she came back to Johannesburg. Xaba, a black consciousness figure who was initially uncertain about collaborating with a white woman. Yet the partnership was a success: Berman focused on fundraising and administration while Xaba ran the studio, which soon gained a focus on collaboration and training; a whole cohort of younger printmakers have since emerged through its work. Tragically, however, in 2003 the studio's President Street premises were destroyed by a fire that also killed Xaba.
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (CMS Context)
Presented by The Art Fund and the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. An acquisition project to build a collection of modern and contemporary work on paper from Australia, Canada and South Africa was undertaken over 2011-13 with the support of a grant under The Art Fund's RENEW programme. The collection was developed with the expert advice and generous assistance of Annie Coombes and Norman Vorano in relation to South African and Inuit artists respectively. Khadija Carroll, Anita Herle and Diana Wood Conroy also contributed to the selection process. Obtained from Robyn Nesbitt, Artist Proof Studio Curator, The Bus Factory, 3 President Street, West Entrance, Newtown Cultural Precinct, Newtown/ PO Box 664, Newtown, 2113, Gauteng, Johannesburg.

Part of the Portfolio ‘Volatile Aliliances’, 1995 with 23 prints (2014.258 - 2014.280), edition 50/65. Participating artists included Paul Molete, Gordon Gabashane, Nhlanhla Xaba, Joe Ndlovu, Simon Mthimkhulu, Ezekiel Budeli, Pepe Jose Abela, Mmakgabo Helen Sebidi, Philippa Hobbs, Dominic Tshabangu, Giulio Tambellini, Moleleki Frank Ledimo, Lothar Riedel, Mbongeni Richman Buthelezi, Velaphi Mzimba, Elvin Sefati Nethononda, Sokhaya Charles Nkosi, Vincent Baloyi, Simon Sejake, Durant Sihlali, Diane Victor, Muzi Donga and Kim Berman.
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
Etching by Xaba Nhlanhla titled 'The making of inauguration', 1994. Edition: 50/65. Inscribed signed and dated: '50/65 The Making of Inauguration [Autograph] 94'. Condition: Good. Part of the Volatile Alliances 1995 portfolio, edition 50/65.
Event Date 27/8/2014
Author: maa