Simon Max Bannister

Rock Art

2012-01-30T01:40:00.001-08:00

Wanderer Above the City of Fog

2012-01-24T07:33:00.000-08:00

Wanderer Above the City of Fog

Digital adaption by

Simon Max Bannister 2012

Original painting by

Caspar David Friedrich

The floating world...

2012-01-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

When I walk the shoreline, I often feel as if the objects on my path have a story to tell me. The ocean is the source of life and all forms have been encoded and sculpted by its raw power. I watched this shipping bouy wash ashore and roll onto the beach with a strong wind pushing it along. From the water to the land it just kept rolling, I chased it up onto the beachfront road and picked it up. It had a strong presence about it, and had travelled far, and had strange markings on it "Made in Norway"it said. I wondered what other message it had to share?

A few years ago I had travelled with an Iranian Land artist by the name of Ahmad Nadalian. He had demonstrated an ancient art of cylinder seals carved from stone. He had modified the seals to a larger scale and made beautiful symbolic forms on them that could be repeated as the cylinder revolved. Making these prints in the sand, they made striking interactions with the tide lines.

A great icon of the ocean is the "Great Wave" by Hokosai. This wood block print made in the "Floating World movement" in Japan has endured as an incredible depiction of the raw power of nature. It has many interpretations that differ dramatically from East to Western cultures. The Floating World movement is briefly described as a time of opulent hedonism, a time that mirrors our modern age in many respects, namely materialistic capitalism. The wave comes as a looming presence of disaster, clawing at your fears, a notion that things are too good to last. I often feel this threat, an anxiousness of the masses.

The Eastern interpretation of the painting hits an opposing notion that the oarsman pictured below are not in peril, their boat is made swift and there determination to reach home after delivering fish to the local market drives them through the storm. The beauty of the wave an insightful portrayal of hydro dynamics echoing the sensitive nature of water.

Onboard the Sea Dragon from the 5gyres Institute, I witnessed first hand the extent of plastic pollution has reached in the oceans. Every sample of the 42 trawls we took across the S.Atlantic carried the traces of man's hand. There is not an island now that does not have microplastic flotsam tossing in its shoreline. The effects of our pollution often go unseen, but these brightly coloured fragments are hard to ignore. The effect of our consumption is now out there, the ocean's condition a reflection of civilization. There is only the way forward and we must ride this wave, going with the flow of nature.

Using these two inspirations I carved the wave into the plastic and created a rolling seal that moves from West to East, a symbolic gesture to move from blind panic to conscious acceptance. These are the striking results....

East to West

crest on crest

cause and effect

is it too good to last?

Riding the edge of chaos

with the momentum of the past.

The eternal break

wave on wave

carving our fate.

2011 - The journey

2011-12-18T02:57:00.000-08:00

Thejourney goes on, the journey is the destination, and the journey is here. Theyear has watched me come and go, back and forth, to and fro. Planes, trains andboats all in a row. But what’s this rhyming nonsense? Let me begin at the startthen.

Withthe Two oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, I saw an opportunity to see the locationas an exhibition. So I hunted and collected plastic from the shorelines androadsides to use as my material and inspiration for the artworks. Using astudio space in the Cape Castle of Good Hope, I created a series of syntheticcreatures that represented the satirical emergence of life from the oceans. Awarning prophesy of the tide that was changing for the worse. The installationwas well received as it linked with an awareness message of how we need tocontrol our waste (namely plastic) better.

Whilethe exhibit was up, an amazing coincidence occurred. The research I had doneinto the topic had connected me with the 5gyres institute, who were at thatvery point were conducting water sampling across the South Atlantic. They hadplanned to be in CT in December and had been interested in my work. I wanted tojoin their expedition back to S. America and managed to raise half the fundsrequired (as they run a volunteering business model). They arrived and oncethey had viewed my exhibit, decided that I must join them! I literally had aweek to prepare for my first sailing trip. The Black South Easter blew for 3days, while we were moored in the CT harbour, with a looming presence. What a dreamto travel across an ocean! We finally left on the 30 December and I welcomedthe new year on the bow of the “Sea Dragon”. We sailed by the lee, up the Westcoast to Walvis Bay to meet the rest of the crew and then westward to St.Helena. The island is an incredible speck of Earth that very few get to visit.But the entire trip was beyond what I can convey in these few lines. Bioluminescentplankton in the wake, flying fish skipping across the surface of the mercurialskin that is the boundless reflection of light. Cloud dancers and on a full circlehorizon, floating on the restless waters of creation and chaos. Truly inspiringto feel the vast space of the open waters. We took 42 samples across the Gyre,before we reached Pirriapolis, Uruguay. Every single one contained some degreeof plastic fragments. A confirmation of the immense pollution footprint thelast 50 years of progress have left behind. On my return (via 9hrs by plane) Irecounted my learning’s from the last 30 days I had been at sea and theinsights this experience gave me. Both for better and worse I continue to befascinated by the paradox of plastic as a giver and taker of life.

Itwas only fitting that on my return to Cape town I then got involved with an innercity art festival called” infecting the city”. Myself and 8 other artists werechallenged to create an artwork from 30 bags of household waste. Pretty insaneactually, a real challenge to find a single solution amongst many strong mindedartists, a real test in working together in the heat of the moment.

Ithen had an incredible opportunity open up in the form of a graphic designposition at Londolozi. Working on the premise of doing their marketing printcommunication, I would have the time and space to pursue my land art afterhours too. I found that this has given me a centre of gravity to operate fromfor the rest of the year. A place of warm smiles, good energy and inspirationalwildlife. I have been working here for 10 months and it has great to spend timewith my brother, who, when he is not busy driving guests as a ranger and taking photographs ofleopards and lions, manage to co-create by working on 2 books that usephotography and poetry to convey the insights of living in the bushveld, wewish to share those soon with you.

Beingin this part of the world opens up many beautiful getaway locations, Swazilandbeing one of them. I have found a magical retreat there near Mbabane and haveenjoyed taking walks in the mountains and contemplating the art of the simplelife.

Imanaged to reconnect with my parents in the Drakensburg mountains soon after mywonderings in Swaziland. We spent some peaceful afternoons enjoying the sceneryand had a very special hike to this beautiful waterfall called the Blue Grottoin the Champagne Castle region.

Witheach getaway I maintained my creation process of making artworks along the wayand pushing proposals for involvement in upcoming events. One such proposal wasthe creation of the first land artwork on the Eden to Addo corridor initiative;this perfectly coincided with the launch of the Site_specific land art fest inPlettenburg Bay. I worked in a small town called Kranshoek in a far-outlocation on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. It was a dramatic setting forthe piece, which consisted of moving 8 large boulders into the shapes of 3elephants. The result was great and added a new permanent attribute to thelittle town and a highlight for the co-ordinating project groups.

Afterthis I had to return to Londolozi and so took the trip by car. A fantastic longdrive through the desolate but rich heartland reminded me of the need I have toconstantly explore the unknown, cover new ground and learn more about themystery and magic of this country.

Aftera couple of weeks back in the bush, I returned to the Western Cape toparticipate in the Grahamstown festival. I saw a few outstanding shows andcreated a small exhibit in the sustainability commons at Rhodes. I enjoyparticipating in the transformation of the town, taking to the streets, meetingcreative folk from around the world and pushing my artistic boundaries.

I hadthe absolute pleasure of joining my parents for a hike called the whale traildown in the De Hoop reserve. An incredible array of fynbos flowers lined thepath of shells with sweet and unusual aromas. One walks a combination ofmountain, cliff and beach amongst stunning rock formations of ancient sanddunes turned stone, sculpted by rain, wind and ocean for millions of years. Thetranquillity, rugged nature and isolation make this place one of my favouritelocations of all time. It was great to see how fit my parents are, they kept ahealthy pace the whole way and we shared good times and great meals along theway.

I hadone of my works exhibited at the Standard Bank gallery in a collection entitled“Water” along side some of SA’s most recognised artists. The work entitled“return” was used as the exhibit poster image and subsequent catalogue. This isa good sign that finally, the effort and energy I am pouring into my craft iscoming through.

The acclaimedBoekenhoutskloof wine estate commissioned a giant porcupine made from timber inOctober. It was fantastic to be in Franschoek for a couple of days and tastethe matured fruits of the delicious red wine “chocolate block”.

Thislast month has taken me by train from Johannesburg to Durban as an artistrequired to make temporary artworks to demonstrate the effects of climatechange with found objects along the way. The objective was to bring awarenessto the COP17 conference and the issues to be addressed there. I was unable toattend the debates and so busied myself with the expo stands trying to get myhead around the incredible latest technologies in renewable energies. One thingis for sure, as a collective we have the power, but it lies in the hands of afew. For how long will this be the case? You can find my latest artworks here on myblogsite, simontothemax and mywebsite: maxplanet.info

Thisyear has been incredible for me, I’ve found my passion and am pushing it on alllevels. Creation is sublime and essential to progressing and processing thenature of the world, for better or worse. Life is what you make it, and I amgrateful for every breath. I wish to inspire you to follow your passionstrongly as the world keeps turning, everyday is never the same. Everyday isyours to begin, again.

Withgrace and gratitude, Simon Max Bannister 20011/12/02

Climate Train to COP17 Johannesburg to Durban

2011-11-21T12:55:00.001-08:00

When paths cross, we focus intention and empower

each other's destiny.

I joined the Climate Train in JHB at Nasrec Station, Sponsored by South Africa's environmental Affairs, Indala Yetho, COP17, National Lottery, British Council, this is most certainly not the gravy train. Saving Tomorrow Today is the challenge, and a never-ending one at that. Saving the world from ourselves is the inconvenient truth that I have found in my observations. But here we are, armed with spades of progress and lashings of spicy creativity to spread awareness and hopefully keep green giant fed.

This has been my first introduction to the train team and the various workshops and activities planned for the next week down to Durban for the Big Meet. I have felt inspired to be involved with the movement, as I really want to see how effective this amount of energy and resources can be in delivering something more than a quick fix. I wish for something deeper, something that genuinely touches people and empowers them to change their inner climate of love for the earth.

Breaking new ground is a daily affair,

more hands, more spades, more eyes to feed.

Resilience is a thin blade that cuts slowly.

Reflections of a paradise paved reveal a fractured paradox

Blue is the new green

Xolani - 35years old -

(group canvas workshop)

Explanation: The House on the left has a dustbin outside, this is to demonstrate that we must recycle at source. The book on the right is show how education and studies are important to learn about climate change. The heart in the centre is for passion and the tree growing out of it is showing re-growth and regeneration. The AK47 is to shoot anyone who doesn't listen.

The Train was a fully equipped and modified premier class mobile unit. Artists, project mangers and group facilitators all worked to mange the public interaction and educational objectives of the major co-ordinator, Indhalo Yethu, the SA greening agency.

This is the exhibition and cinema carriage.

One of the many school groups that came to visit and learn about the climate train.

The renewable technologies showcase carriage

My contribution to the journey is very open in its deliverables, this I have done with intention as to not limit my abilities and boundaries to tightly. I will create with "found materials" And as this is really about our relationship with the earth and its resources I felt that this was a good place to start. Mud.

People always seem to be waiting, waiting for something to arrive or end. Anticipation of disaster and the ability to think ahead has been a key facet to our progress and success of harnessing the elements.

I love the way the earth changes the colour of my hands,

I am no race, I am human, I am earth again.

We are the Earth...

Earth Child - Earth and Water - 50cm x 30cm x 20cm

Earth Child with fellow artists, ambushers and the MEC of Gauteng of Environment and Agriculture and Rural Development, Nandi Nayathula - Khoza...

Earth Child - return to earth... as the days go by...

I decided to return Earthchild back to the ground, after a a 600km journey with the climate train, I carried the fractured remains to a park outside the convention centre and buried it under a great green fever tree. Here it can once agin give the soil new life and vitality.

The journey has brought many people together, here are some provincial delegates participating in a group canvas project, making their individual commitment to sustainability and a better environment for all.

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Damaged earth

A promise broken

Wounded pride

Nothing left to hide

the impossible

blood

Blood stone - Stone, Earth and Water - 50cm x 30cm x 30cm

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The process is always more rewarding than the result. Engaging with the art of creation on a constant basis gives one a very different view of the world, "paint" and "canvas" are open for interpretation, the boundaries of these elements need to be constantly redefined. With my experience I have learnt the benefit of limitation. Time and materials available create the "rules"which I must work with to realize a vision of the finished result. Too many options can be overwhelming and dilute the message inherent in the works emotion.

With the work demonstrated below, I have extended the concept of natural materials and used broken shards of tile from a pile of building rubble to represent the eternal tension of creation and destruction. The skull icon brings us closer to realizing our own mortality and the lifespan of that which we create. The degeneration of our environment a mirror of our compulsive need for development.

Simon Max Bannister, Fractured Reality, 3m x 3m,

Earth and broken Tiles, 2011

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A crack in the shield, winds like the river, holding the moisture of new beginnings,
holding the valleys of change, carving the ancient fragments
of the relentless rift.

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Dangerous divides, Blood on the tracks, a land cut this way and that,

these lines of steel move mountains.

Red Earth

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What's yours is mine, what's mined is gone, up in smoke, for all of time

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Within thememory of me,

trickles oftears,

hopes of ourstreams,

unite tomorrowsrivers,

touching the ocean

a tide oftransformation

A collaborative of words by Mbali Vilakazi and Max

Amanzi - 25000mm x 500mm

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Hand to Earth & Earth to Water - Red Earth on steel - 1400mm x 800mm

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Earth Wounded - Red Earth on Tarmac - 800mm x 25mm

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This installation was done guerilla style at the entrance to the climate change Conference of Parties in Durban. The ice block was allowed to melt in the beating sun, creating a large pool of water for the delegates to walk through. Simply suggesting the tenuous situation of the melting ice caps, this piece once again reminded the representatives of the urgency of their debates and related actions.

Polarity- Ice - 45cm x 45cm

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Climate Train

2011-10-26T23:45:00.000-07:00

In the most extensive country consultation yetin advance of any of a UnitedNations Framework on Climate Change Committee UNFCCC’s Conference ofthe Parties (COP) meetings, a Climate Train will depart on a month long journeyacross South Africa on Friday.

Under thebanner – Mobilization, Dialogue & Climate Justice - the ambitiousoutreach programme is aimed at consulting communities in 16 towns and thesurrounding countryside on their climate hopes, aspirations, experiences andsolutions. Addressing climate change is a crisis of global proportions that affectslife – in all its forms - now and for unborn generations. This crisis requiresa cooperative faith, moral and spiritual approach beyond the scientific andpolitical interventions if we are to deal effectively with mitigation andadaptation strategies to climate change, which we call climate justice.

Indalo Yethu, theSouth African Environmental Agency, in collaboration with the British Counciland COPART, with the support of the Department of Environmental Affairs, thePassenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and the Embassy of the Republicof Germany, have joined forces to make the Climate Train journey a reality. Theclimate train presents a multi-pronged vehicle to highlight the impact ofclimate change on communities, while documenting responses, expectations andsolutions in the towns along the way. It is also a resourcehub showcasing low-carbon technologies and presenting information and learningexperiences regarding climate change mitigation, adaptation, and innovation.

The train is scheduled to arrive in Durban on the 27^th ofNovember, just in time for the events ahead of COP17, where it will be parkedat the station for visits by delegates, learners, the public and activists. The specially retrofitted traindeparts from Cape Town station at 9pm on Friday and will be sent off by amongstothers Environment Minister Edna Molewa and a representative group ofinter-faith and indigenous leaders, given their crucial role in helping tochange behavior and values to ensure South Africans meet the challenges posedby climate change individually and collectively. Friday’s launch willbe filled with art, industrial theatre and music, centred on climate change andclimate justice topics.

It will not be allabout fear of the future. The specially decorated train has three specialcarriages for interactive events, learning and entertainment:

· The Knowledge Carriage: A resource centre setup withlearning materials and learning tools to create space to spend time applyingand developing all of what is absorbed during the interaction with the ClimateTrain. The resource centre will showcase green technologies, biodiversity mapand climate change resilience practices through interactive displays andlearning tools

· The Conference Carriage: A space to host roundtable dialoguesessions, conferences, seminars, film screenings and theatre performances.

· Creative Carriage: This carriage will be a learningspace where creative cultural practitioners, artists and others can work onprojects along the journey and will perform poetry and threatre. It will offera full range of materials and tools for creative engagement.

I am very excited to be joining the Train and to create artworks with found materials from JHB to Durban....

Schools, activists and members of thepublic are invited to come and share in the films, industrial theatre, andround table discussions on climate and environment topics. Off the platformsthere will be tree planting to off-set the carbon footprint of the journey, guerillagardening, social sculptures, music, poetry and art as well as lively town hallmeetings and Earth Forum discussions on people’s relationship with the earth.

Among the initiatives along the train route would also be the introductionof a climate charter discussion, aimed at finding an African response andcontribution – especially listening to the wisdom, values and indigenouscommunities’ language to make our values and rights audible in the climatediscourse. While the time before COP17 is too limited to conclude a credibleconsultation, it is hoped that voices along the route would be able to feedinto a longer term process to inform an African People’s Charter. Last month,the Economic Justice Network (a programme for the Fellowship of ChristianCouncils in Southern Africa), Indalo Yethu, the Council of Churches and the South African Faith Communities’ EnvironmentInstitute (SAFCEI) launched a partnership after a two-day conference thatdeliberated on the urgent joint action needed to prepare our communities forclimate change and the far-reaching decisions to be considered at COP17. Underthe banner of “We have Faith – Act Now for Climate Justice”, a collection ofSouth African faith and civil society leaders signaled their intention to havetheir collective voice loudly heard by being the first to sign what they hopewill be a multi-million signature petition to be presented to COP17.

While there is an overall focus to ensure a united voice among SouthAfricans, the train would specifically highlight the plight and struggles ofvulnerable groups, such as the children, youth, women, the working poor andindigenous communities. . Our roundtable conferences at stations would alsotackle burning topics for each region/town.

SPECIAL INVITATIONS TO THE MEDIA:

· Indalo Yethu CEO June Josephs-Langa will give aspecial background briefing on the Climate Train on Friday, 28 October, on thetrain at Cape Town station’s Platform 24 – at 16h00 pm. Programmes for the first few legs of thetrain would be released the54re. Please RSVP for the press conference (detailsbelow)

· Journalists are welcome to attend the launchceremony scheduled to take place between 18h00pm and 21h00pm.

· The train has limited passenger capacity, but weare able to host a few journalists on a rotational basis on legs of thejourney. Media houses could indicate their interest via the contact detailsbelow.

· Please find below the train itinerary - which maybe subject to minor changes in the latter part of the journey.

· Attached are also the programmes for the first twostops of the train – Cape Town and Worcester.

Please contact Christelle Terreblanche for more information, to RSVP forthe briefing or to indicate interest to hop on for a leg of the journey.

T: +27 – 832266458

E-mail: christelle@indaloyethu.org or terreblanche8@gmail.com

Itinerary: 28 October – 10 December 2011

Departure Station	Dep. Date	Dep. Time	Arrival Station	Arr. Time	Arr. Date	Remarks	Activities
Johannesburg	25/10		Cape Town		26/10
Cape Town	28/10	21.00	Worcester	00.00	29/10	3 hours journey time
Worcester	30/10	22.00	Beaufort West	04.00	31/11	6 hours journey time
Beaufort West	31/11	21:00	DE AAR	0:35	01/11
De AAR	01/11	21.00	Kimberley	05.00	02/11	8 hours ourney time
Kimberley	03/11	22.00	Klerksdorp	02.00	04/11	4 hours journey time
Klerksdorp	05/11	22.00	Krugersdorp	01.00	06/11	3 hours journey time
Krugersdorp	07/11	22.00	Johannesburg (Nasrec)	23.00	07/11	1 hour journey time
Johannesburg (Nasrec)	10/11	23.00	Pretoria	01.00	11/11	2 hours journey time
Pretoria (Centurion or Pyramid or Pretoria North)	13/11	05.00	Naboomspruit	08.00	13/11	3 hours journey time
Naboomspruit	14/11	22.00	Polokwane	01.00	14/11	3 hours journey time
Polokwane	16/11	22.00	Louis Trichardt	02.00	17/11	4 hours journey time
Louis Trichardt	19/11	06.00	Johannesburg	07.00	20/11	13 hours journey time (Maintenance check in JNB)
Johannesburg	21/11	22.00	Standerton	01.00	22/11	3 hours journey time
Standerton	23/11	22.00	Ladysmith	02.00	24/11	4 hours journey time
Ladysmith	25/11	22.00	Pietermaritzburg	03.00	26/11	5 hours journey time
Pietermaritzburg	27/11	07.00	Durban	09.00	27/11	2 hours journey time
Durban	10/12	20.00	Johannesburg	09.00	11/12	13 hours journey time