Conversing the Land, the latest collaboration between the University of Johannesburg and the MTN SA Foundation in the UJ Gallery from 22 October to 27 November, offers as the title indicates an exploration of the South African landscape as shaped by the memories, myths and meanings artists have attached to place. Any physical place has the potential to embody multiple landscapes, each of which is grounded in the cultural definitions of those who encounter the place.
Large-scale urban development at the height of capitalism stimulated development and welfare, but also overcrowding, insufficient housing and utilities, a division between upper class and township communities as well as unequal distribution of land resulting in forced removals and displacement.
Within this dichotomy of have and have-not, the issue of land reform and restitution comes to the fore, but also brings with it the deeper yearning of the urbanite for the rural, the memory of a time and place that is no more and the re-imagining of a mythical landscape.
As such, the landscape as a form of artistic expression becomes a site of hopes and aspirations, of memory, trauma, identity, history, heritage, migrations and a yearning to reconnect with land. Land issues, land ownership, identity, belonging and place of connection are constantly being reimagined in this country we call home.
As in Shifting Conversations (engaging colonial and post-colonial narratives) in 2017 and Continuing Conversations (focusing on various forms of identity in portraiture) in 2018, the previous iterations of this current collaboration between UJ and MTN, the underlying principle of this exhibition is more to stimulate conversation than to address – hence the exhibition title.
In presenting an exhibition based more on temporally fluid meaning, curators Annali Dempsey (UJ) and Katlego Lefine (MTN) included artworks from the permanent collections of MTN and the University of Johannesburg as well as selected artworks derived from an Emerging Artists Portrait Development Programme.
In order to extend the reach and scope of this exhibition, the two curators facilitated three programmes aimed at developing participation in the conversation on land issues.
The Mentorship Programme under the guidance of the project manager Rika Nortje and two curators offered three B Tech students at the Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) at UJ a first-hand experience of curatorial practice with master classes on collection management, safe handling of artworks, practical in-house label making and marketing. The mentees assisted with the content and the running of the Educational Programme, administrative tasks pertaining to the emerging artist programme as well as the setting up of the exhibition.
The Emerging Artists Development Programme invited artists through public advertising to submit an artwork in response to, or in conversation with, modern and contemporary South African landscapes, thereby offering a platform to showcase talents and interpretations of contemporary South African land issues. Ten works were selected from the entries received and forms part of the Conversing the Land exhibition, alongside the works sourced from both UJ’s and MTN’s art collections. The winner will be announced at the opening of the exhibition on 22 October.
The Educational Programme was designed for this particular exhibition aimed at learners and students accompanied by a full colour catalogue and learner material.
Divided in broad themes Conversing the Land explores the idyllic depiction of pastoral and rural life, the effect of industrialisation, the devastating influence of mining on the physical landscape as well as the consequence of the lack of social cohesion within migrant families.
On so many levels Conversing the Land continues to solidify the MTN/UJ partnership and the mutual aim to make their respective collections visible to a wider public. However, more than showing a fine collection of artworks “the collaborative projects between the UJ Art Gallery and the MTN SA Foundation afford both parties the opportunity to promote emerging artists and to provide opportunities for personal growth through educational programmes, walkabouts and master classes,” Dempsey added.
“MTN is fortunate to be involved in a creative programme which gives tangible support and opportunity to emerging artists and simultaneously contributes to relevant contemporary discussions about our collective experience,” Lefine said. “The tradition of depicting the landscape is intimately connected to the colonial experience and is thus rendered pertinent in conversations relating to history, ownership and agency.”
Audience Responses
I extended my apologies and did not atend
Peter • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
Great exhibition. Wonderful audience. Very poor sound system
Annali • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.5
The pieces on display were nothing short of amazing. The music and food was also phenomenal. The fact that the friend I came to support was the grand prize winner made the experience that much more memorable couldn’t ask for a better experience.
Ebenezer • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Wonderful exhibition. Great variety and accomplished work, beautifully curated and hung. Top marks.
Moira • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
5
Tsepo • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
Thank you for a incredible exhibition !! The sound system needs to be improved magically !
Chris • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Thank you for a incredible exhibition !! The sound system needs to be improved magically !
Chris • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Thank you for a incredible exhibition !! The sound system needs to be improved magically !
Chris • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Thank you for a incredible exhibition !! The sound system needs to be improved magically !
Chris • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
The space was too linear to host presentations and as such most of the audience missed the opening speech and the prize giving.
Mpho • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.0
Thanks for the show !There where some great new and upcoming artist !
Thabo • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
It was a very lovely night. The band was a great touch, the food was very nice, and the overall exhibition was well curated. It was an incredible experience.
Siyabonga • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
The space was too small for the number of people invited. The sound wasn’t audible and viewpoints were really bad. Next time please consider having a high podium for speakers to ensure maximum visibility for the guests in the space.
Philani • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
2.0
Very insightful event and a great choice of theme. I hope there’ll be more in the future. Thank you.
Thabiso • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
it was a great evening with fabulous interesting art, music and delicious snacks. Congratulations!!
Anneke • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Having a wide selection of finger foods for vegetarians would be amazing
Keitumetse Nirvana Akisa • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.0
Having a wide selection of finger foods for vegetarians would be amazing
Keitumetse Nirvana Akisa • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.0
A fabulous evening, thank you all ! Unfortunately the talk was severely hampered by the sound system 😥😥
Chris • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
It was fantastic. The band, the food, the atmosphere, the art and then setup of all the pieces was beautiful and fluid. Thank you for a great exhibition
Witney • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Absolutely awesome! Very well put together and organized, I had a wonderful time and was very inspired by the art on display.
Angela-Kerry • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
Expertly curated with a commendable mix of masters such as Laubser, to contemporaries such as Radcliffe, as well as the upcoming young Turks who were offered an opportunity to showcase their wonders!
jacob • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.5
It was splendacious and the pieces were succinctly affiliated,the show adopted a thematic rather than a chronological approach.
Leonard • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
5.0
It was quite full, I will need to go back before the end of the exhibition to get a better sense – great food and music. Thank you for hosting us.
THATO • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
3.5
Excellent evening with fine food, music and beautiful paintings! Pity about the noise during the speeches though – it’s and exhibition, not a sports event!.
Costa • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.0
Beautiful Art! Thanks, we enjoyed the evening.
Ernst • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.5
Exhibition was curated in a very thoughtful and interesting manner. Wonderfulto see works Ive not see in years or not seen before
Les • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
4.5
Art exhibited in 2 and 3 Dimensions quite thought provoking…. atmosphere with music, good food (creatively packed !!!) people, interesting and interested …. all in all a great encounter with art ! Thank you,kind regards, Silvia and Manfred Gohla-Neudecker
Silvia < • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 4.0 Fantastic! Adam • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Fantastic! Adam • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Excellent exhibition and reception. Congrats to Annalie and the team. Colin • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. great event with excellent range of South African art from all sections of the comunity Donald < • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Just when I think Annali Dempsey and team cannot do better, they do! Well done! An yet again excellent exhibition! chehan • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Just when I think Annali Dempsey and team cannot do better, they do! Well done! An yet again excellent exhibition! chehan • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Just when I think Annali Dempsey and team cannot do better, they do! Well done! An yet again excellent exhibition! chehan • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Just when I think Annali Dempsey and team cannot do better, they do! Well done! An yet again excellent exhibition! chehan • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 Just when I think Annali Dempsey and team cannot do better, they do! Well done! An yet again excellent exhibition! chehan • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 5.0 It was fire, the live band just made everything better. Katlego • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 4.5 5 very well done, great catalogue , great experience for young curators! Kim • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. I thought it was great, except I felt you had a bit much up, it could have been spaced out for better viewing with fewer pieces. Congratulations to the winner last night! Tessa • Attended Oct. 22, 2019, 6:30 p.m. 3.5