City students to host ‘interactive’ art exhibition

AN EXHIBITION containing works from the William Humphreys Art Gallery (Whag)’s permanent collection, curated in collaboration with students from the Sol Plaatje University, will be opening in Kimberley tonight.

The exhibition, entitled

“What’s Old Is Still New”, consists of several artworks from Whag’s permanent collection, selected by first-year students from the university’s Higher Certificate in Heritage Studies, under the guidance of renowned German artist Liz Crossley.

Crossley made an initial selection of 80 artworks from Whag’s permanent collection and from there, the students had the opportunity to interact with the pieces and choose the ones that most resonated with them.

The students then further researched the chosen artworks and developed a narrative to accompany the pieces during the exhibition.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to take part in this “interactive” exhibition, by adding notes or texts/comments to the pieces.

Crossley said that the curating process was interesting, as some works that students had initially responded negatively towards (like the painting “Grand Mapogga” by Alexis Preller) had later become their favourites, after they researched and explored the meaning and motive of the artworks.

Besides learning to interpret and research art pieces, students were also taught how to handle and mount art.

The students were yesterday putting the finishing touches to the exhibition, which opens tonight, and said that the event was about individuals from different backgrounds coming together to create something cohesive in an exhibition that is aimed at sparking debate about old and new issues.

One student, Sian-Adey Hill, said that the theme, “What’s Old is Still New”, spoke specifically to certain “old” social issues from the past, such as abuse and poverty (a thread running through most of the collection), that had become “new” issues due to the current increased severity or intensity thereof.

Students admitted that the project was daunting at first but added that they learned valuable lessons about interpreting the message of artworks, “instead of just looking at a picture”, and said that the project had opened a brand new world of thinking about and communicating with art.

The exhibition contains pieces that “spoke” to students, while forming part of a cohesive dialogue, and include “Fire Side” by George Pempa, Gabisile Nkosi’s “One Tuesday Morning” and “Knowledge and the Ship of Fools” by Diane Mclean.

“What’s Old Is Still New” will be opened by the students at the Whag tonight at 6.30pm and members of the public are welcome to attend.