David Krut Publishing in association with the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS), the MTN Art Institute, and the Arts Council of Switzerland (Pro Helvetia) recently presented the TaXi series of books. This is a fresh and collectible series that begins to correct the lack of published documentation on contemporary South African art.

Edited by art critic Brenda Atkinson and funded by IFAS, the Arts Council of Switzerland (Pro Helvetia), the MTN Art Institute and the Royal Netherlands Embassy, the series is envisaged as a long-term, non-profit cultural investment. It will also provide exposure for local writers and designers as it will be marketed to an international audience, the text being translated into Dutch and French.

The first book focused on Jo Ractliffe who is a practising artist working with photo-based media, video and installation. She lives and works in Johannesburg but recently exhibited at the NSA Galleries. Other artists to be featured in 2001 are Samson Mudzunga (Venda/Johannesburg) and Jeremy Wafer (Durban). The series will be available in South Africa at Exclusive Books at R120.