A foundational approach towards the relationship between mark-making, freedom, and meaning in selected works by David Koloane and Dylan Graham

Abstract

The artistic phenomenon referred to as ‘mark-making' is a foundational artistic process in creative practice. In this practice based artistic research project, I will explore the relationship between mark-making, freedom and meaning by investigating the works of the South African artist David Koloane (1938-2019) and myself, Dylan Graham.

I will explore the process of mark-making as a basic human impulse to express our thoughts, emotions, and experiences and to give external form there to through art. I will also discuss how marks can allow us as viewers to have emotional and empathetic responses to the artwork and its subject matter. In order to do so I will perform a formal analysis of artworks, provide historical context and utilise an autoethnographic approach (specifically when discussing my own artistic practice and education). The dissertation has to be read in conjunction with the artistic outcomes of my practice-based research. These were presented as a solo exhibition titled Regardless (15 July - 29 July 2022) at the UP Student Gallery at the University of Pretoria and were subsequently collated in a catalogue of the same name presented as part of this submission.

Keywords: Mark-making, Expression, Race, Freedom, David Koloane, Resistance Art, Painting and Drawing.