The Nelson Mandela University Department of Visual Art in the Faculty of Humanities is hosting a free walkabout for the MAVA Group Exhibition, which showcases the creative work of eight recent candidates from the Master of Arts in Visual Arts programme.
MEET THE ARTISTS: Master’s graduates, from left, Wandile Msipa, Erin Smith, Ansu Feiertag, Drew Minter, Zama Spellman, Micaela Human, Pearl Shale and Kader Abdulla will lead a walkabout on Saturday March 1 (Picture: Basil Brady)
Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts, Prof Pieter Binsbergen, said they were part of the largest group of master’s graduates in the University’s history.
“There are eight from Visual Art and four in Music, not to mention nine more in the honours programme in Visual Art – I am thrilled by this, it is truly a remarkable achievement.”
All eight draw on their own lived experiences, and this is reflected in their work on show.
Drew Minter; Wandile Msipa’s vivid paintings on unstretched canvas reflect aspects of township life. Pictures: Basil Brady
Ansu Feiertag and Michaela Human. Pictures: Basil Brady
Prof Binsbergen gives a brief glimpse into the diversity that visitors will see at the gallery:
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Wandile Msipa explores the relationships of black South Africans who live in townships though a series of vivid paintings.
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Erin Smith focuses on the global environmental crisis, exploring how to create artworks while minimising the harm caused to the planet.
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Zama Spellman has created a powerful collection of ceramic “books”, imprinting each piece with stinging words that express South Africa’s racial trauma.
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Micaela Human’s work investigates being queer in heteronormative society, with the accompanying sense of belonging, or “unbelonging”.
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Drew Minter visually explores the phenomenon of bisexual identity, and how this can lead to feeling invisible, or ignored.
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Ansu Freiertag also reflects on trauma, digging into her own family history to create drawings and installations that reflect on the connections that have shaped her worldview.
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Kader Abdulla uses a multimedia installation to explore how art, memory and identity meet, drawing inspiration from his family’s forced removals from their home during the apartheid era.
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Pearl Shale’s collection of garments show how traditional shweshwe fabric and its designs can evolve for a contemporary world in constant flux.
Prof Binsbergen highlighted the importance of a community of practice for young artists, saying it contributed to the high standard of master’s work on show.
“A community of practice afforded our students various platforms to interact with one another, feel a sense of ‘Yes, what I am doing is important work’ but, mostly, feeling a sense of belonging and purpose.
“They reference the very core of our existence and echo messages outward into a world that is grappling with very challenging and complex issues on a social, political, environmental and personal platform globally.”
The walkabout starts at 10.30am on Saturday, March 1, at the gallery at 20 Bird Street, Central, Gqeberha. The MAVA Group Exhibition is open from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 4pm, until April 4.