Fine Art students reflect on Self-Identity



NASIPHI GIGABA


Seven third-year Fine arts students held a group exhibition at the Durban University of Technology’s Art Gallery recently. Titled, Know Thyself, the exhibition formed part of the students’ assessment for the Communication Studies subject where they are tasked with organising and curating their own exhibition. 
Students showcased work ranging from paintings, photographs to sculptures- all which spoke to the theme of self-identity.
Explaining the purpose of the exhibition, one of the students, Taryn van Wyk said: “As artists we put together the exhibition called “Know Thyself” collectively to encourage self-reflection as a catalyst for the exploration of issues that question culture, identity, gender, religion and feminist objection,” said group member.”
Even though Van Wyk and her colleagues, Mfundo Mhlongo, Mfezeko Gumada, Halalisani Mpunzana, Londiwe Mtshali, Star Govern and Silindile Dlamini come from different backgrounds, they combined their differences to intertwine each other’s interpretations and expressions on self-reflection.
“We chose to work within the framework of self-reflection to express our diverse backgrounds that are bound by common questioning of cultural issues,’ she added.
Halalisani Mpunzana’s work explored gender fluidity and culture through the use of ceramics and printmaking.
“My work explores the identity of homosexual men in a heteronormative society,” he said.
He added that it is important to know who you are and what you stand for in order to know where you are going and how you will handle the world.
Govern stated that the exhibition was a huge learning curve in terms of arranging work around an art gallery, how to measure and place the works in a way that they are at eye level and speak to each other.  

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