The art and life of Peter Clarke commemorated in his book
PARKWOOD – Friends, family and fans of late South African artist, Peter Clarke, attended the launch of the second edition of his book, with testimonials and heart-felt accounts of his life.
Peter Clarke, a renowned South African artist, was most famous for his emotive artworks that reflected the situations he was in. Around the time of his passing, friends and business partners, Philippa Hobbs and Elizabeth Rankin, had conceptualised the idea of a second edition of Peter Clarke’s book.
The book launch, held at the David Krut Publishing House, produced the perfect atmosphere for Philippa to let the audience into Peter’s life before and after he died. “It was a horror to know that he was gone, but even more of a horror to think that everything would have to be turned into past tense,” she joked, explaining her feelings about the time of Peter’s passing. She continued to explain that the hardest part of writing about someone’s life, while they’re alive, is that you never know where to end and that was especially true for Peter. “He kept us scrambling and towards the end he became even more exuberant!”
One of Philippa’s favourite pieces in the book is Anxiety – which is a recurring theme in the book – and furthermore explains his feelings when he was forcibly moved from where he lived by the apartheid government.
Philippa also divulged that there could be a Peter Clarke museum to come in the future.
“He was an introduction to humility,” said Mohammed Rafi, a long time friend of Peter.
