About

Hello, my name is Mark Rautenbach. I am a multimedia artist from South Africa currently living and working in Cape Town. I am using this space to showcase my current work, and as a catalogue of some of my older works.  I work in a variety of mediums, often thread, specifically sewing thread, and liminal matter, the stuff that hangs about us that is difficult to throw away because of its symbolic charge. I use many techniques; development of yarns, knitting, performances and craft-like studio work.

I lectured Design for a number of years at Cape Peninsula University of Technology [CPUT], and education recurs as a theme in my work along with identities born out of narratives [yarns]. I have shown at The South African National Gallery, Everard Read, Open 24 Hrs, Spier, David Krut Projects, and Ebony/curated.

I keep up to date with current projects via Instagram and YouTube and most of my projects are supported by a blog. A list of these links can be found on the links page.

Please contact me via the contact page.

Photography credits: Mike Hall, Jan Ras, Inka Kendzia

Why Yarn and Sewing Thread?

I use yarn as a pun on "story" to explore how much of human existence—everything that matters to us and the process of meaning-making—emerges from the stories we create. It deeply concerns me that so much of our identity, perhaps all of it, is embedded in this act of storytelling. I’m drawn to the idea that stories can be spun into threads, developed into fabrics, and, especially in the case of knitted fabrics (my favorite type of fabric, likely because it’s so stretchy), unraveled and repurposed. To me, this reflects how identity is something to be played with, not taken too seriously.

It took me decades to realize that meaning doesn’t exist outside of us—it’s entirely up to each of us to create it. And, as it turns out, we’re remarkably good at it.

Then there’s sewing thread. As a material, it’s often invisible—we typically try to match thread to fabric so the seams aren’t noticeable. Yet, this invisible thread is what holds everything together. Without it, things fall apart. For me, sewing thread symbolizes the invisible psychological and spiritual forces that bind existence. I’m fascinated by these forces, and through my work, I explore, draw attention to, and play with them.

Knitting by hand

Knitting falls outside of normal everyday activities and yet is so mundane and ordinary. In the 21st century it is astonishingly anachronistic and unheimlich [uncanny]. Knitting by hand doesn't fit the prevailing global economic dementia. According to these systems it makes no sense to knit by hand; it's not economically viable, it’s a waste of time.

Yet for me it is such a sanity check. Knitting embodies and expresses something that time and money cannot. It takes a lot of time.; placing me in liminal spaces [outside of time]. It expresses a deep care, a deep concern for, a deep willingness/commitment to sit with things even when they are uncomfortable.

These activities point to presence and embodiment as essential and necessary aspects of being.