FOURTEEN STATIONS OF THE CROSS

Fourteen stations of the Cross is a book object or artist's book that explores the initial journey or pioneer period of Christianity in the interior of southern Africa. It is informed by the first fourteen mission stations that were established between 1736 and 1813 in South Africa and the southern region of Namibia across the Orange River.

Although the title of the book makes a direct reference to the popular Roman Catholic devotional Stations of the Cross (that commemorates the passion and death of Christ, each station or `halting place' standing for an event which occurred during Christ's passion and death at Calvary), there is no direct correspondence between the devotional Stations and the first fourteen mission stations represented in this book. Instead the mission stations represent a metaphorical journey or passage transcending the past and present rather than a devotional journey.

Fourteen stations of the Cross comprises three books contained in a single slipcase. The thirteenth-century Roman Catholic hymn the Stabat Mater, which is closely associated with the devotional Stations of the Cross, serves as a thread that provides a structure to these three books. The first four verses introducing the four sections of Book One act as a prelude to the fourteen mission stations that are contained in Book Two, and correspond with the entrance hymn for the initial prayers of the devotional Stations. Each mission station commences with a verse from the Stabat Mater, beginning with verse 5 (the first mission station at Baviaanskloof/Genadendal) and ending with verse 28 (the fourteenth mission station at Hoogekraal/Pacaltsdorp). Fourteen stations of the Cross closes with Book Three, where the last two verses of the Stabat Mater correspond with the farewell hymn for the concluding prayers of the devotional Stations.

Fourteen stations of the Cross approaches the initial journey of Christianity into the interior of South Africa as an allegorical narrative of redemption, reconciliation and healing. Through a process of `artistic production', it explores the paradoxical and ambiguous interplay between histories, textures and nuances, where the interaction between images offers the opportunity to create a rich variety of compound meanings through playful poetic exchanges.