“Before the work can be cut from the loom, the materials – fabric, rope, bead – must be fastened to the strings by way of a double knot.”

Preamble
Knots is a conversation between Igshaan Adams and Josh Ginsburg that brings the artist’s Open Production to a close.

For three months, Igshaan made the Gallery at A4 Arts Foundation his studio and the site of a hybrid exhibition environment.

Process and Findings
Tying off loose threads, Igshaan and Josh situated themselves in the space for Knots to talk among the works, joined by a small group of colleagues and practitioner-friends.

"The unknowable force that is called God, I mean it's something so grand one isn't supposed to be able to comprehend – to grasp; but I want to know, you know?" (Igshaan, Knots, 2020).

Open Production transformed 'gallery' into a workshop. An unintended consequence of the floor space allowed for the construction of a piece to begin on the ground: a map of the 'desire lines' found on a patch of earth between Igshaan's family home in Bonteheuwel and the adjacent suburb of Langa.

Workshop and studio, but also – archive. Igshaan was able to pull pieces created throughout his career from A4's archive. These began to populate the environment, among the new works that were accumulating form. Like revisiting old friends, these pieces of historical significance grounded the process of making within the environment, as strategies across the artist's practice became visible in a cohered setting.

Our warmest thanks to Igshaan for his willingness to relocate the hub of his making into the Gallery; for the fastidious and playful time spent, and for welcoming A4's team like family into his process of production.