Artwork
Untitled
Untitled is a print by Kim Berman. It dates from 2001 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 2001, *Untitled* is one of thirty-one mixed media prints in a portfolio by South African artist Kim Berman.
Created in 2001, *Untitled* is one of thirty-one mixed media prints in a portfolio by South African artist Kim Berman. The work combines paper collage, ink, and print techniques to produce a textured, layered surface. Berman’s practice centers on printmaking as a tool for social reflection, and this piece emerged during a period of intense engagement with community-based art initiatives in post-apartheid South Africa.
Subject & Meaning
The central phrase 'BREAK THE SILENCE' is rendered in large, fragmented letters, as if torn from newspapers or posters. Surrounding sketches suggest figures in motion or distress, evoking voices suppressed under political oppression. The raw, unpolished composition amplifies a sense of urgency, positioning the work as a call to confront unspoken histories and collective trauma within South African society.
Technique & Style
Berman constructed the piece using layered paper fragments, hand-cut shapes, and ink impressions, creating a tactile, uneven surface. The palette is restrained—browns, grays, whites—with occasional black accents reinforcing contrast. The lettering appears deliberately distressed, mimicking the look of found materials. This approach rejects polished aesthetics in favor of immediacy and material honesty.
History & Provenance
Berman developed this work after returning to South Africa following studies in the United States. It belongs to a portfolio produced during her tenure at Artist Proof Studio in Johannesburg, a printmaking workshop she directed and helped establish to support emerging artists. The portfolio was created as a collective effort, reflecting shared experiences and political concerns of the time.
Context
Made a decade after the end of apartheid, the work responds to ongoing struggles with inequality, censorship, and public memory. Berman’s use of collage and text aligns with broader postcolonial artistic practices that repurpose discarded materials to reclaim narrative agency. The piece emerges from a local printmaking movement that prioritized accessibility and community dialogue over commercial art markets.
Legacy
Berman’s commitment to collaborative printmaking helped institutionalize the medium as a vehicle for social commentary in South Africa. *Untitled* exemplifies how her work bridged personal expression with collective resistance. The portfolio remains a reference point for artists exploring print as a democratic, participatory form, influencing subsequent generations in African contemporary art.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kim Berman (born 1960) is a South African artist. Berman received a BFA from the University of the Witwatersrand before pursuing her MFA at Tufts University. She taught at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston…
