THE PHOTOGRAPH AND THE TICKET: REPRESENTATIONS OF TRAVEL IN THE WORKS OF DAVID GOLDBLATT, USHA SEEJARIM AND CAROUSCHKA STREIJFFERT Usha Seejarim A research report submitted to the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Fine Arts. Johannesburg, 2006 ABSTRACT The major theme of this research investigates artists‟ representations of journeys; the ritual activity of people‟s daily journeys along fixed routes, and long distance travel. Through specific projects by David Goldblatt, Usha Seejarim and Carouschka Streijffert, the differences between the experience of actual journeys and the visual codes and conventions used to represent these journeys in artwork is interrogated. In particular, this research is concerned with the presence and absence of the body within these representations of journeys, focussing on how journeys construct otherness. These concerns have been linked to my own practical work. The Putco bus service also appears in all three artists‟ works. Through qualitative research, this report shows how ordinary subject matter has been used by the three identified artists to produce interesting work. List of keywords Journey, photograph, Fietas, Lenasia, KwaNdebele, Putco, ordinariness, Goldblatt, Streijffert, Seejarim ii DECLARATION I declare that this dissertation is my own unaided work. It is submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in Fine Art in the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. It has not been submitted before for any other degree or examination in any other university. ______________________________________ Usha Seejarim _________________day of ______________, 2006. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks to the National Arts Council (NAC) who supported me financially for the practical submission of my work. Also to the University of Witwatersrand for the merit bursary received during my first year of study for this degree. Special thanks to my supervisor Julia Charlton, who has endured this long journey with me, given me extensive feedback, understood all my other interruptions and delays, and encouraged me to complete with integrity when I often felt otherwise. During the early stages of proposal writing, while Julia Charlton was on maternity leave, I would like to acknowledge the brief role Rory Bester played as co-supervisor, in helping me consolidate my ideas towards this research. Bengt Asplund was invaluable in translating information that I found in Swedish, specifically since I was unable to make contact with the Swedish artist Carouschka Streijffert, and found little published information available. I would also like to thank Stanley Govenden, the Environmental Health Officer of Region 11, Johannesburg, who very willingly provided me with statistical information on Lenasia not easily accessible elsewhere. Lastly, I thank my husband Rajash Seejarim, who has tolerated my frustrations and run numerous errands for me, for his overall understanding of my needs and continuous support. iv CONTENTS Page Abstract……………………………………………………………...……………………ii Declaration……………………………………………………………..………….….....iii Acknowledgements………………………………………………………..……...……iv LIST OF FIGURES ……………………..…………….. .......................................... 7 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................ 11 CHAPTER 1 Fietas .............................................................................................................. 20 Forced Removal .............................................................................................. 23 Relocation to Lenasia ...................................................................................... 27 Names of Places ............................................................................................. 30 Daily Travel ..................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER 2 David Goldblatt ................................................................................................ 37 CHAPTER 3 Carouschka Streijffert ...................................................................................... 50 CHAPTER 4 Usha Seejarim .................................................................................................... 60 Practical work .................................................................................................. 68 Two Rooms and a Kitchen ........................................................................... 68 Journey travelled by assessors .................................................................... 79 Eight to Four ................................................................................................ 80 in place ........................................................................................................ 86 CHAPTER 5 Representing the Journey ............................................................................. 103 CHAPTER 6 Defining the Journey; body, text, time ........................................................... 116 CONCLUSION .................................................................................................. 123 5 LIST OF REFERENCES ................................................................................... 128 APPENDICES Appendix A: Transcript of interview with David Goldblatt……………...…A1 Appendix B: Transcript of Two Rooms and a Kitchen…………………….B1 GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED……………………………………………………..C1 6 LIST OF FIGURES Page Chapter 1 (Fig 1.1) Fietas during forced removals (Schmidt 2003:10)……………………..26 Chapter 2 (Fig 2.1) David Goldblatt, 3:00 A.M.:Early passengers on the Wolwekraal – Marabastad bus. (Goldblatt 1989:20)……………………………….……..46 (Fig 2.2) David Goldblatt, Standing Room only now, on the Wolwekraal – Marabastad bus. The bus is licensed to carry 62 sitting and 29 standing passengers. (Goldblatt 1989:24)……………………………….47 (Fig 2.3) David Goldblatt, Wolwekraal –Marabastad bus at about 4:00 A.M.: More than an hour and a half still to go. This bus took on its first passenger at about 2:50 A.M. and will reach its destination in Pretoria at 5:35 A.M. (Goldblatt 1989:32)………………………………...48 (Fig 2.4) David Goldblatt, Travelers from KwaNdebele buying their weekly season tickets at the PUTCO depot in Pretoria. (Goldblatt 1989:36)………………………………………………………………………..49 Chapter 3 (Fig 3.1) Putco bus Tickets in Carouschka‟s Tickets. (Streijffert 1998:119)………………………………..……………….……………………56 (Fig 3.2) Putco bus Tickets in Carouschka‟s Tickets. (Streijffert 1998:118).……..57 (Fig 3.3) Tickets from Japan in Carouschka‟s Tickets. (Streijffert 1998:127)……..58 7 (Fig 3.4) Carouschka Streijffert, Welding Spark. Collaged tickets (Streijffert n.d.) ………………………………………………………..……....59 Chapter 4 (Fig 4.1) Usha Seejarim, Cash Ticket / Ash Ticket, bus tickets, pins, soft board, 1999, size: 3m x 1.5m (detail)……………….……………………………...66 (Fig 4.2) Usha Seejarim, untitled, artists book, photographs and map, dimensions folded: 150 x 100 x 80mm extended: 150 x 100 x 1000mm. 1999…………………………………………………………….…..67 (Fig 4.3) Usha Seejarim, Two Rooms and a Kitchen, installation view as shown at the Goodman Gallery in August 2002, video projection, couch, vinyl floor, duration: 52 min.2002……………………..…………….75 (Fig 4.3.1) Mr Navrotam Parshotam. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.……………………………………….……………………..75 (Fig 4.3.2) Mrs Savita Moonsamy, Mrs Muthal Pillay, Mrs Abida Ahmed. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.………………………76 (Fig 4.3.3) Mrs Baby Lutchemia. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.…………….…………………………………………….….76 (Fig 4.3.4) Mrs Manibhen Manilal. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.………………………………………………….……..76 (Fig 4.3.5) Mrs Fatima Sali. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.……………………………………………………….……..77 (Fig 4.3.6) Miss Lutchmee Moodley. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.……………………………………………………...….…...77 (Fig 4.3.7) Mrs Anjilay Naidoo. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.……………………………………………………..…….…77 8 (Fig 4.3.8) Mr Annamala Thandrand & Mrs Panjela Thandrand. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.……………………..……….78 (Fig 4.3.9) Mr Peter Moonsamy & Mrs Doreen Moonsamy. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.……………………………….………..78 (Fig 4.3.10) Mrs Zohra Seedat. video still from Two Rooms and a Kitchen. 2002.…………………………………………………………………..……..…78 (Fig 4.4.) Usha Seejarim, Eight to Four, video stills, 2001.…………………...84,85 Chapter 5 (Fig 5.1.1) Usha Seejarim, Series: Going Tokyo Missing Home, Lambda print, edition of 5, series of 13, 2004………………………….……………….93 (Fig 5.1.2) Usha Seejarim, Series: Going Tokyo Missing Home, Lambda print, edition of 5, series of 13, 2004. …………………………………………94 (Fig 5.2) Usha Seejarim, Prolonging the view, Lambda print, 2004………………………………………………………………………...…..95 (Fig 5.3.1) Usha Seejarim, Peace Job, installation view, 2004…………………………………………………………………………….96 (Fig 5.3.2) Usha Seejarim, Peace Job, video still, 2004…………………………………………………………………………….96 (Fig 5.4.1) Usha Seejarim, Spilt Milk: Effervescent, and Pressed Flowers, burned milk on rice paper, size A1. 2004………………..…………………97 (Fig 5.4.2) Usha Seejarim, Spilt Milk: A Woman’s Place, burned milk on rice paper, size A1. 2004……..…………………………………….…….98 (Fig 5.5) Usha Seejarim, The Modest Home Builder, floor installation, bricks & irons covered in fabric 2004……………………………………….99 (Fig 5.6) Usha Seejarim, Bicycle, mosquito netting, size 500 x 400 mm. 2004………………………………...…………………100