An art exhibition that was recently launched at a local gallery aimed to translate research focused on those people often excluded from conversational sources, into works of art. This was according to professor Johan Fourie, coordinator of the Biography of an Unchartered People project. The art exhibition opened at Gallery University Stellenbosch (GUS) on 23 February.
Through the Biography of an Uncharted People project, artists have aimed to interpret research that tells new histories of people that are often excluded from conversational sources, according to the exhibition pamphlet. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
In 2021, 14 SU researchers from the economics and history departments working on the Biography of an Uncharted People project were paired with 14 prominent artists in South Africa. The aim of this pairing was for the scholars’ research to be translated into works of art, said Fourie, also a professor at SU’s department of economics, in written correspondence with MatieMedia.
“The idea was for the artists to translate the scholars’ research into an art piece that would illuminate, reinterpret – and perhaps even challenge – the research in a creative way,” said Fourie. “Stellenbosch University produces high quality research, but the research is often limited to discussions in academic journals. We wanted a way to disseminate our work — because it relates to ordinary people in South African history — to a broader audience in a creative medium.”
The Gallery University Stellenbosch (GUS) forms part of the visual arts department at Stellenbosch University (SU). 14 SU researchers were paired with artists who translated their research results into works of art. This is according to Prof Johan Fourie. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
Clara Babette, the curator of the exhibition, said in written correspondence that each research topic had to be paired with an artist that could elaborate, interpret or enhance the research topic visually. Babette, who paired the researchers with artists, mentioned that she approached artists whose practice focused on similar themes to the research being conducted by the various history and economics researchers. An example of such a pairing is PhD student Karl Bergemann’s research that was reinterpreted in an art collaboration with Dr Kathryn Smith, chair of the visual arts department, and her PhD student, Pearl Mamathuba. Babette stated that Smith and Mamathuba reinterpreted Bergemann’s research on 19th century fugitives in paired multimedia portraits of runaway or fugitve slaves or apprentices who lived and laboured in the Cape Colony in the early 19th century.
Instead of publishing research in academic journals, the Biography of an Uncharted People project aims to disseminate research through art, in order to bring the research closer to those whose stories are told, according to the exhibition’s pamphlet. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
“What was most interesting about the collaboration was the reaction and responses from the researchers to the artworks,” added Babette. “Some of the researchers [said] the artwork has had a profound effect on them and shifted the manner in which they view their research.”
Smith, who chairs the GUS committee, mentioned she is excited about the “possibilities for demonstrating the value of visual art for disseminating research” and making academic work accessible in unexpected ways.
Ania Lobaczewski’s favourite piece from the exhibition was “Migration to Cape Town”, a piece resulting from a collaborative conversation between Vulindlela Nyoni, the artist, and Nobungcwele Mbem, the academic researcher. According to the exhibition pamphlet, Mbem’s research work centres on the historical migration and displacement of black communities in the Western Cape. PHOTO: Karla de Bod
“I think it’s great that they presented the research in a creative way,” said Ania Lobaczewski, fourth year BEd (Foundation Phase) student who attended the launch. “Now, students like myself and other people who prefer art pieces above academic journals are also able to learn and appreciate the research done by the university.”
Fourie stated that he hopes the exhibition encourages other scholars and the university to “think more creatively about how they disseminate their research”.