A Sustained Observation

Ivan Vladislavić speaks about his writing life in Johannesburg through observations, readings and reflections. Drawing from his fiction and non-fiction works, he discusses how keeping notes and collecting fragments of everyday urban life has shaped his approach to storytelling, which often relies on assembled pieces and a willingness to see beyond the surface. Ivan also shares insights into his writing process, from his interest in unfinished stories and the role walking plays in his creative thinking, to his reflections on ethical distance and cultural appropriation over more than three decades of writing. Mentioned in this episode: ‘The Restless Supermarket’ (Ivan Vladislavić, 2001) ‘The Near North’ (Ivan Vladislavić, 2024) ‘At Home with Ivan Vladislavić An African Flaneur Greens the Postcolonial City’ (Gerald Gaylard, 2023) ‘The Exploded View’ (Ivan Vladislavić, 2004) Michel de Certeau’s text "Walking in the City" included in ‘The Practice of Everyday Life’ (1984) South African photographer David Goldblatt “Acts of Faith and Frightening Fictions: An Interview with Ivan Vladislavić” (Sisonke Msimang, 2021) ‘The Distance’ (Ivan Vladislavić, 2109) Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges’s exploration of libraries To find out more about Ivan’s work, check his website out www.ivanvladislavic.com Music for the JCAF Knowledge Talks podcast was commissioned by JCAF. ‘INGWENYA’, performed by the Afrikan Freedom Principle, led by Mandla Mlangeni, © MM Publishing. Website URL: ⁠⁠⁠⁠jcaf.org.za⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠foundation_jcaf