'Tarka must be preserved'

MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Artist Kenneth Alexander, formerly known as the Artist in Athlone, lives in historic Tarka in Mossel Bay.

Many of Alexander's artworks are of historic buildings. He has 140 works on www.southafricanartists.com and many of them are of significant buildings in District Six and other parts of Cape Town.

For many years Alexander's studio was in Athlone, in the Cape Flats. His artworks from his time in Cape Town reflect the culture of Athlone, where Christians and Muslims and rich and poor, lived side by side peaceably.

Now, living in Tarka, he has painted a number of the historic houses in Tarka.

Alexander is deeply concerned about preserving South Africa's cultural and historic heritage. It is his heart's desire to see Tarka recognised as a cultural and historic gem and a tourist attraction. He points out that there is architecture in Tarka that currently is or was highly significant, including the Tarka Wash House, which was demolished.

Alexander believes history should be kept alive through storytelling and museums.

He feels he has gone full circle, coming back to Mossel Bay.

He says: "I worked in Mossel Bay from 1974 to 1980, at Pilex Foundation, an engineering construction company and I developed a strong bond with Mossel Bay. During that time I met and married my wife Deirdre Koert, who is from Mossel Bay."

Exhibition

Alexander recently exhibited a project called The Faces that Built / Broke South Africa at the Bartolomeu Dias Museum in Mossel Bay.

The exhibition will reopen once the museum reopens in September after the upgrading which is taking place currently.

Alexander uses various media on canvas, wood or chipboard. He often uses twigs, cardboard, empty tins and so forth, to create a three-dimensional effect.

Often his art is a social comment on the history and politics of the country.

He is also an avid photographer and has written books which showcase his life experience in Apartheid and post-Apartheid South Africa. His books are illustrated with some of his large collection of photographs.

He launched his first two books, Welcome to my World and Pavement Special in April 2017.

Since then he published A South African By-product and #Just4you.

Alexander's commentary on social issues has been published in The Cape Argus and Athlone News. To contact Alexander, email theartistinathlone@gmail.com.