Unravel

Object Details

Christine Dixie, born 1966, South Africa

Series

A.P. 6/6

Label Text

As Gerhard Schoeman writes in a 2001 exhibition publication, "Dixie's work is rooted in both the concrete and fantastical experience of the South African landscape--inner and outer--placing her work within a tradition of landscape art that is particular to the Eastern Cape." That she draws the connection between her personal history and identity and the land beneath her feet is further evidenced in a self-portrait entitled, "Unravel." Dixie created this work at the invitation of artist, critic and curator, Clive van den Berg. He requested the artist to create a self-portrait that fit within certain dimensions. This was her response. And once again in this linocut and etching, the artist has recreated the details of her own image set against the defining landscape of the Eastern Cape. One is left to wonder if what is unraveling is the history woven into this landscape, or the artist's own sense of herself in relation to place.

Description

Linocut and etching on paper of a standing female figure in a dark wrapper pulling a shade over a landscape with mountains and rivers.

Exhibition History

Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue - From the Collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Camille O. and William H. Cosby, Jr., National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, November 7, 2014-January 24, 2016

Published References

Kreamer, Christine Mullen and Adrienne L. Childs (eds). 2014. Conversations: African and African American Artworks in Dialogue from the Collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art and Camille O. and William H. Cosby, Jr. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 204-205, 215, no. 99, pl. 114.

Content Statement

As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.

Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Credit Line

Purchased with funds provided by the Annie Laurie Aitken Endowment

2001

Object number

2011-6-4

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

(c) 2001 Christine Dixie

Type

Print

Medium

Linocut and etching on paper

Dimensions

Sheet: 154.5 x 94.3 cm (60 13/16 x 37 1/8 in.)

Geography

South Africa

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

female

Record ID

nmafa_2011-6-4

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7594ae9e2-e1d3-477d-a117-561cc9195118