Book 11  Bound by Life. Penn, C and Magwood-Fraser, L. (2008) (Fig 9).  Bound by Life. Unique collaborative artist’s book .  40 pages, graphite pencil, crayon, pastel, printing, oil paint, collage, bandage, Plaster of Paris. 46cm x 32cm.   Book 11.   Collection: Cheryl Penn.

This was a collaborative work between Lesley Magwood-Fraser and myself.  Magwood-Fraser is a Durban based artist, well-know for her drawing skills.  Once Magwood-Fraser  had agreed to work with me, I chose to use the lino-cuts we were making in a drawing class we attend together, as the basis for the collaborative book.  I printed seven bound animal/humans which represent the seven deadly sins;  betrayal, deceit, indifference, harshness, intolerance, depravity and cruelness.  I am interested in Egyptology, myth and metamorphosis.

The images of bound mummies/animals are  symbolic of being bound; bound by religion, bound by circumstance, bound by chance, bound by death, bound by debt.  I believe we are all bound in some way.  The binding must of necessity change us. It is disconcerting  that we are bound by our free choices.  For example, whom we choose to marry binds us to a resultant set of circumstances; a place, children, economic and social position.  If we then choose to leave that bondage we are faced with another sort of bound place; single income, different home situation, loneliness and in some cases single parenting.

I started by changing the faces, rather than the bodies, because the metamorphosis was best indicated in these images.   Magwood-Fraser’s reaction to my work was that it was too dark and morbid. She attempted to lighten the figures by drawing in lighter tones, washing in pale colors and using images of fertility goddesses and figures which attempted to ‘unwrap’ the image they were next too.  Once the pages came back I discovered that the images were  all on the right hand page.

I inserted text on the left hand page which explained that I didn’t think one could ‘lighten’ such actions as betrayal and deceit  A problem still remained as the left hand page was without images. I started to repeat images, and introduce new images, which ensured that Magwood-Fraser’s attempt to ‘lighten’ my work  (and my message) was denied.