Twenty student-leaders at Stellenbosch University (SU) collaborated in the curation of the SU museum’s newest archival exhibition. Titled Where are we now?, the exhibition explores their experiences of 30 years of democracy and transformation.
This is according to Bongani Mgijima, the director of the SU Museum.
“We believe that the arts can serve as a powerful backdrop for conversations about democratic practice and transformation, particularly in the context of South Africa and [SU],” said Thulani Hlatshwayo, the coordinator of SU student governance.
The Where are we now? exhibition opening commenced with a panel discussion moderated by Pearl Mamathuba (left), lecturer at the Stellenbosch University (SU) visual arts department. The panel comprised student-leaders, who reflected on the curatorial process and their contribution to the exhibition. Left to right: SU Student Representative Council chairperson Phiwokuhle Qabaka, SU student imbizo convener Ila Alberts, chief justice of the SU student court Nicole Bryant. PHOTO: Bayanda Gumede
The curatorial process
The students reflected on the curatorial process and their contribution to the exhibition during a panel discussion at the exhibition opening held on 25 July. The panel included the SU Student Representative Council chairperson Phiwokuhle Qabaka, the SU student imbizo convenor Ila Alberts, and Nicole Bryant, the chief justice of the SU student court.
An untitled portrait by Johann Louw, which was created in the year of her birth in 1998, resonated with Qabaka. She felt that it encapsulated her conflicting emotions regarding the promises and pitfalls of democracy since 1994, she said.
“Louw’s artwork serves as a rallying cry for renewed engagement, a reminder that democracy is not a destination, but a journey […] fraught with challenges, yet brimming with potential for transformation and renewal,” said Qabaka in her curatorial statement.
“I didn’t choose the artwork, the artwork chose me.”
Student Representative Council chairperson, Phiwokuhle Qabaka, selected an untitled portrait by Johann Louw, created in 1998. The artwork resonated with her conflicting emotions regarding the promises and pitfalls of democracy since 1994, according to Qabaka. PHOTO: Bayanda Gumede
Disrupting curatorial conventions
The initiative is an active attempt to disrupt the traditional curatorial conventions, according to Mgijima.
When reading the reflections and curatorial statements that the student-leaders had written, panel moderator and lecturer at the SU visual arts department, Pearl Mamathuba, was intrigued at how students were seeing and connecting with the artworks, despite their limited knowledge of artistic conventions.
The exhibition, which has had several iterations curated by staff members since its inaugural opening in 2014, is an embodiment of the museum’s aim to become a transformative, inclusive space for the invention of new rituals, and new traditions, according to Mgijima.
“All traditions, ancient and modern, are invented. As part of democratic and inclusive citizenship, we need to invent new traditions that are in line with our constitutional ethos. I hope that today’s event will become […] a new tradition for student-leaders at [SU],” said Mgijima.
The Stellenbosch University (SU) Museum opened their first ever student-curated art exhibition on 25 July. The exhibition, titled Where are we now?, offered 20 student leaders the opportunity to consider their experience of 30 years of democracy and transformation by selecting artworks from the museum’s archive.