Voortrekker Kitsch

Found in my archives, I originally spotted this item at a local market. The border, main lettering and outlines are a glittery silver - like crushed tinfoil just below the glass. It may well be a glass painting actually, created by painting in reverse directly on the back of the glass.

The building featured is the Voortrekker Monument, a solid (and stolid) symbol of the Great Trek undertaken by early white 'Afrikaner' settlers. The flags are those of the early Afrikaner republics. The wording "Op die pad van SA ~ die bou van 'n nasie" means "On the road of South Africa ~ the building of a nation".

For non-South Africans, this is culturally like Confederate imagery. I have a few pieces of Trek kitsch in my home and was tempted to buy this one because its so distinct, exemplary in a way. Laden with nationalist symbols, its cultural and visual weight seemed just too heavy though. I guess that's cultural baggage.

Even without any explanation of language, culture, origins, I believe you would have a clear sense of the kind of message this imagery conveys. Flags, a monument, flaming torches. This is what nationalism thrives on, be it Soviet, American, Chinese or South African.

Ratatouille End Titles - Retro Design (Ratro design?)

Pixar pays homage to illustration of another era with this retro end credit sequence.

Early 60's Record Cover Designs

above: Los 3 De Santa Cruz, Piel Canela (circa 1960)

Above: (45') The Di Mara Sisters - Cha Cha!! Mambo!! Samba!!

This sleeve design is so basic you can practically feel the designer cutting out the photo and crumpling paper for the background effect... which is probably exactly what he/she did.


Above: (45') O Simeli - Saint Jean de Luz (circa 1960)

These 3 record sleeves are examples of design for 2 & 3 colour printing, which was a cheaper printing solution till very recently.

I haven't heard O Simeli yet to discern any reason for the naive illustration style. Is it sung by children, for example? Or perhaps the artist felt it expressed the simple joy of nature.

The O Simeli cover shows the deliberate use of off-register colour, which became distinctive of much mid-century graphic design, though in this example also naively handled.
Is this an early example of a style not yet clearly defined? (I think so.)
Or rather a loose approximation of something already being done with more assertive style elsewhere? I'm curious to know and the style deserves more and clearer examples so I'll be sure to find and post some.

Off-register colour is a technique I remember fondly since I was a kid (early 1970's), synonymous with cartoons at the drive-in, the Flintstones and Pink Panther, stylised title and credit sequences, all accompanied by grroovy music.
Aah, the drive-in.

Herb Alpert Album Cover Art 1963

Esther at Stax o Wax and I disagree about the merits of this 1963 album cover art - graphic, 2D and striking while surprisingly whimsical with its procession of little figures, I love it.

Japanese License Plates

Curious to know the era of these license plates, I'd love to hear if you have a clue. Each plate is 15cm long (about 6 inches). They'd look right at home in anything by Studio Ghibli.

Old's Cool

Staying with things vehicular, this Chevrolet Apache is still hauling loads in style in Cape Town and beyond.

And following on behind (forgive the pun), this cute caravan, glimpsed in the Tankwa Karoo. I use the word 'cute' in an entirely positive sense. I can easily imagine the owners having great affection for their holiday on wheels. The only thing its lacking is an old Mercedes to lead the way.

Toyota MasterAce Surf

Ah, what a vehicle! The Toyota MasterAce Surf in its natural habitat - on the road.

This 1987 four wheel drive (yes, you heard right, 4WD) was first driven in Nagano, Japan before making its way to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by way of Dubai. From Tanzania it drove through Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia to reach its possibly final home, South Africa. When it arrived, it was still wearing snow-tyres from Nagano.

Affectionately known as Deepak, in honour of its previous Tanzanian owner, this vehicle features 6 skylights (4 that open) and revolving, foldable interior seats for multiple configurations of lounging, chilling, chatting, touring or sleeping under the stars. What a gem!

The orange and brown side decals are classic and interestingly, the letters 4WD have been designed to mimic the silhouette of the vehicle itself ~ class.
(This is clearer from the opposite side of the vehicle but if you look closer you'll get the idea :-)