Notes

‘Exquisite Corpse is a portfolio of 16 etchings based on the theme of an Adam and an Eve, where each artist collectively produced two figures, drawing on historical references or interpreting the gender archetypes in their own particular way.

The participating artists are Paul Birchall, Christiaan Diedericks, Eunice Geustyn, Richard Kilpert, Theo Kleynhans, Julia Teale, Diane Victor, and Judy Woodborne.

They played the game by drawing the Adam head on a copper etching plate, and the Eve head on another. The images were then etched, the drawing blocked out and the etching plate passed on to the next artist who had been randomly selected. The torso was then drawn onto the etching plate, etched and the plates again exchanged to draw the last section of the body or corpse. Thus, three artists worked on each plate, creating composite images of eight Adam and eight Eve etchings. The resulting “body” is a surprise and a unique collaboration of the different visions of the participating artists.

The images were etched on copper plates, size 25 x 45 cm in Ferric Chloride, and editioned by Judy Woodborne, with the assistance of Louisa Betteridge and Paul Birchall at the studio in Spencer Street.

Printed on Arches Johannot paper, 240 gsm, with Charbonnel Nero Luxe C ink in an edition of 10 copies, and two artist’s proofs.

The project was curated by Judy Woodborne and sponsored by Sanlam Ltd.’¹

1. Stefan Hundt and Judy Woodhorne. (2009) Exquisite Corpse: 16 etchings on the theme of Adam & Eve, Cape Town: Sanlam Ltd. Page 3.

Exhibited

Norval Foundation, Cape Town, Exquisite Corpse Exhibition, February 2019, another example from the edition was exhibited.

Literature

Stefan Hundt and Judy Woodhorne. (2009) Exquisite Corpse: 16 etchings on the theme of Adam & Eve, Cape Town: Sanlam Ltd. Illustrated on page 8.