THE success of the first issue of the Inyathi Journal has encouraged poet and publisher Amitabh Mitra to bring out the second issue.
Inyathi Journal is the only academic art journal in southern Africa.
The launch of the second issue, at East London’s Ann Bryant Art Gallery, was attended by local art lovers and officials from the provincial department of sports, recreation, arts and culture. Renowned New Zealand photographer Anthony Maturin presented a slide show of photographs of some of the poorest places in the city and in Cambodia.
Speaking about the journal, Mitra said that the initial idea was to publish it once or twice a year, depending on the input and quality of articles, which are written by various artists.
“When we launched in November last year we were overwhelmed by the response; we sold thousands of copies and we had to do reprints and send to places like America and Europe,” said a proud Mitra.
He said that although it was difficult to put the second issue together, the success of the first issue and the passion he had for art had encouraged him.
“The passion I share with all small-time publishers drove me to publish the magazine; and we have some very good and well-written articles in the second issue.”
These include a detailed background on works by renowned Eastern Cape artists George Pemba and Dumile Feni, whose works form part of the East London Ann Bryant Art Gallery collection.
“The journal is for everybody who wants to know what art is all about. I also want to invite the department of arts and culture to use the journal to communicate its future programmes.”
Godfrey Mona, from the provincial department of arts and culture, congratulated Mitra on bringing his idea to life.
“I have read the journal and I am very pleased with the quality of work; especially the write-ups about Pemba and Feni. The journal is very educational and I want to pledge our support of this kind of work. We will continue to support the journal and other initiatives of a similar nature.”