A long-term creative partnership between artists Anton Kannemeyer (Joe Dog) and Conrad Botes (Konradski), Bitterkomix is both South Africa’s best and most controversial satirical comic. Presenting a dark, biting critique of the conservative, Afrikaner cultural mainstream and the state of the world in general, Bitterkomix offers a brilliant riposte to the would-be censors of our time.
When I started shilling for Soutie Press I was expecting a cake walk. The art of Anton Kannemeyer and Conrad Botes – from their large-scale works to dime-store comic books – is after all famous worldwide, revered, controversial (ka-ching!), iconic, culturally indicting, relevant and enduring, and undeniably, irrevocably, inimitablygood. Start some social media profiles, promote the shit out of it guaranteeing targeted reach, and convert to sale – easy!
What happens when art becomes mass commodity? In Anton Kannemeyer's case, politically subversive satire runs the risk of misrepresentation and, ultimately, a new kind of censorship. Arts24 interviewed Anton in July 2020 to discuss the Twitter furore that erupted after his designs were removed from fashion and decor commerce website, Superbalist.
