Squzu Press: Dumisani Mabaso (1955-2013)
When discussing printmaking in South Africa, attention is generally given to such artists as William Kentridge and Diane Victor. However, on September 23, 2013, the arts community at large, lost one of its most prolific figures in contemporary South African art: Dumisani Mabaso of Squzu Press.
In 2010, while working at Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg, I had the privilege to travel to Kimberly and stay with Dumi for a week. From 2007-2013 he was in residence at the
William Humphreys Art Gallery, where he moved Squzu Press.
During my stay with Dumi, he schooled me on South African jazz, while we spent hours listening to Charles Mingus' collaboration with Joni Mitchell. We talked about contemporary printmaking in South Africa and his travels to the states. Dumi was a kind man who will be greatly missed.
Below are photos taken of his studio in 2010 and lithographs produced by Mark Attwood at the
Artists' Press. Read
an interview conducted with Dumi shortly before his death.
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I had the great privilege of working with Dumisani when he gave printmaking workshops during school holidays in Kimberley. The last conversation I had with him was in June and it was very interesting as I interviewed him for a research essay I was compiling. The pictures of his studio bring back so many memories, thank you. He was a sweet. humble man and he absolutely loved printmaking. We need more artists like him.