The Power of Images: The Bible in Art and Visual Representation in South Africa

Abstract

Artists are not merely illustrators, but also interpreters of ancient texts such as the Bible. The works of South African artists such as Mbatha on biblical stories are well known, but the art of the Namibian Muafangejo should also be acknowledged. Examples from the book of Genesis in the medium of the linoprint are discussed and compared with other representations in art. The work of Mbatha and Muafangejo represent an African reading of the text. 1. An earlier version of this article was read as part of a graduate research colloquium in Tübingen (Germany) in 2003 (by invitation of Bernd Janowski). I want to thank Gerald West and Juliette Leeb-du Toit (University of KwaZulu-Natal), Michael Godby (University of Cape Town), Sandra Klopper and Lize van Robbroeck (University of Stellenbosch), and my doctoral student Pastor Mzonzima Gwala (Helderberg College, Somerset West) for discussing some of the issues with me, although I am solely responsible for what is written here. Unfortunately it was impossible to give illustrations of all the art works referred to, but references to printed versions are given. 2. As also shown in my article on representations of Gen 3 in art (Cornelius 1997). 3. Cf. West & Dube (2001) and recently Adamo (2003) with bibliography. 4. West is busy with a project which involves collecting examples of biblical themes in Black South African art.