Stellenbosch University’s (SU) departments of physiological sciences and visual arts recently collaborated with Kayamandi artists on a transdisciplinary art project which aims to address the stigma around mental and neurodegenerative illnesses.
This is according to Prof Ben Loos, a lecturer in the department of physiological sciences at SU, and one of the project coordinators. The initiative is based on physiological research conducted by Dr Tando Maduna, and micrographs collected by postgraduate students from the department of physiological sciences, said Loos.
A beadwork necklace called ‘Isiyaca’, made by Kayamandi-based artist Zingisa Vula, is based on a micrograph that depicts the network in the brain that breaks down due to Alzheimer’s disease, according to Prof Ben Loos from the department of physiological sciences at Stellenbosch University. This breakdown leaves the cell ‘stranded’ with toxic material, said Loos. PHOTO: Supplied/Elmarie Costandius
Mental illness stigma
Postgraduate students from the department of physiological sciences identified a need in society for communities to have a better understanding of mental illnesses and neurodegeneration, said Loos.
Loos told MatieMedia that he accompanied physiology postgraduate students in visiting Kayamandi, to determine how the community perceived mental illness.
“There’s a lot of stigma around mental illnesses in these communities. If someone has Alzheimer’s disease, there is no name for that…so the community just sees it as madness,” said Loos.
Zacharia Mukwira, an artist from Kayamandi that formed part of the local project to address the stigma around mental and neurodegenerative illnesses, speaks on the value of creating artwork that translates science to a community that does not always grasp images such as micrographs. AUDIO: Marianne Francis Stewart
Scientific nomenclature for diseases such as Alzheimers, meningitis, dementia and adolescent depression is not prevalent in African languages, or is not well known, according to Loos. This makes science communication a challenge, he said.
“This art project was actually a point of departure to make science communication stronger, and I do believe that art makes it easier to explain science,” said Loos.
Art as a medium of science communication
Kayamandi artists created artworks that translated the scientific micrographs of human brain cells that were collected by postgraduate students in the department of physiological sciences in 2019.
This is according to Prof Elmarie Costandius, an associate professor in visual arts at SU, and another coordinator of the project.
Artists from Kayamandi were asked to interpret scientific micrographs depicting mental illnesses and neurodegenerative diseases. One of the artists, Zacharia Mukwira, decided to create artwork based on this sick neuronal cell, as can be seen in Alzheimer’s disease. “It was really interesting to work with science and create [art] that people in the community can associate with,” said Mukwira. PHOTO: Supplied/Elmarie Costandius
“We decided to specifically work in Kayamandi, and [with] artists from there, because the art should speak to that specific community. There is no use in making art that’s made in a community that they cannot associate with,” said Costandius.
Gerald Choga, Portia Mphangwa, Nomsa Mukwira, Zacharia Mukwira, Simon Shumi and Zingisa Vula are the artists that translated the micrographs depicting mental illnesses into art, according to Costandius.
Prof Ben Loos from the department of physiological sciences at Stellenbosch University speaks on the process of turning the micrographs into art for the project. AUDIO: Marianne Francis Stewart
“It was a learning process. I met a lot of new people during the project…and also on the other hand it presented the possibility of bringing some food onto the table,” said Zacharia Mukwira, an artist, about his experience of being involved in the project.
The art collection that was created to address the stigma around mental and neurodegenerative illnesses in local communities is currently being exhibited on the first floor of the Jan Mouton Learning Centre at Stellenbosch University, according to Prof Elmarie Costandius, an associate professor in visual arts at SU, and a coordinator of the art project. PHOTO: Marianne Francis Stewart
Costandius told MatieMedia that the artworks are currently being exhibited on the first floor of the Jan Mouton Learning Centre at SU, and are available for public viewing.