The Power of Art

Apartheid Art

South Africa was a society divided into colonizer and native, white and non-white, citizen and subject, employed and indentured, free and slave. The result was a fragmented national identity symbolized and implemented by the white minority government's policy of racial separation.

Countries & their Cultures Available at: http://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/South-Africa.html [Accessed on 09/11/2011]

The subject of apartheid is a highly complex one; this was such a cruel and malicious time in history, a time where our inhumane dispositions really transpired. In my opinion, this was also a time that marked the ‘importance’ of culture, people felt so strongly attached to their culture which then resulted in them  enforcing rules to elude the possibility of cultural diversity. The white minority saw their culture as their identity and the thought of losing their identity was inconceivable, I will expand on this subject in later blogs.


The power of Art

Art became a vehicle for socio-political opinions; it was a way of transporting how the majority of people felt at this time, it was a way of liberating speech, and expressing culture - without anyone being directly persecuted. Everything that quantifies ones culture was snatched away from the oppressed people; they were fundamentally robbed of their identities, their beings, art gives us insight to this ordeal. To me, the beauty of art is that it can be interpreted differently by each individual; we are entitled our own opinion, this is significant in this time of coercion.

The Butcher Boys -Jane Alexandra

Available at: http://anarchistcoloringbook.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/the-butcher-boys/ [Accessed on 25/11/11]

This sculpture above was created by Jane Alexandra, a South African artist; she was seen as an artist that focused on portraying not only the political issues but the deep seated psychological difficulties South Africa faced. I studied her work and found this particular piece of work the most intensely moving, visually, I would say that it is very disturbing however intellectually I think it is ingenious. She creates life size sculptures so that when the viewer is confronted by this piece of art, they feel as though it is real. Alexander does a brilliant job in evoking emotions out of the viewer; even looking a picture of the sculpture gives me a sense of unease. The artwork represents the brutal dehumanizing reality of the apartheid era, the butcher boys look like animals - this represents the barbaric way people were treating each other at the time. Their mouths are forced closed; this resembles the absence of free expression of the oppressed people, the lifeless colour shows the intensity of their eradication from society, they are no longer human.

Jane Alexandra – Man with TV

This piece of art depicts the current situation in South Africa; the man represents the previously disadvantaged black man. The African man is given a suit which I take to be symbolic of authority but he is given little guidance. I get the feeling that he is rather misplaced in society, he doesn’t know what to do with his ‘power’ because he is only used to being powerless and immobilised. I can’t help but recognise that this ‘situation’ as a fairly current one. I spent 2months in Cape Town where I often saw this scenario, a black male in the city centre wearing a suit and tie but not quite fitting the role. I think it is because people find it very hard to break away from their demeaned sense of self. I don’t think giving someone a suit and a high paid job can really repair the inequalities of the past.

http://www.artthrob.co.za/01mar/images/alexander01a.jpg [Accessed on 25/11/11]




 

Gerard Sekoto: Song of the Pick

Gerark Sekoto became South Africa’s first black artists to have produced an artwork featured in a museum collection. The Johannesburg Art Gallery brought his ‘’Yellow Houses – Sophia town’’ in 1940. On the contrary, Sekoto had to pretend to be a cleaner in order to access the gallery and view the painting himself.

The art work represents slavery in South Africa, the alignment of the workers shows a loss of identification, they all look the same, there is no individuality and they are seen as merely labours. In the background we can see a white male who is telling them what to do; this clearly shows the white minority power. The scene created in this work of art is one in which I saw on a daily basis, what I found unusual was that everyone referred to their maids and workers as girl and boy. For example, garden boy or kitchen girl. When I first heard this I found is quite amusing and somewhat disconcerting, however once again over time I became accustomed to it. In my opinion, this artwork resembles the disillusionment of culture; it signifies an extensive loss of culture and individual expression.

http://myfundi.co.za/e/Gerard_Sekoto [Accessed on 09/11/11]

I think studying Jane Alexandra and Gerard Sekoto (to name the few) works allowed me to understand more about the apartheid era and its effects on South African culture. Art invited me into the core political dynamics that South Africa went through; this helped me understand the people and their culture. I studied art intensely for 4 years and I can say that without it, I would have had a reduced cultural understanding of South Africa.

A New culture

A New Culture – The rainbow nation

http://www.ezakwantu.com/Rainbow%20Nation.jpg [Accessed on 20/11/11]

Is this concept of a rainbow nation merely an illusion or in fact a dream that is yet to be fulfilled? How will a society fraught with the prejudice nature of its past become a truly democratic nation?  South Africa has had to undergo a huge cultural and political revolution and it’s certain to have an effect on the culture as a whole. The term ‘Rainbow Nation’ in some ways resembles a new culture, in which all cultures accept and appreciate their differences. In my opinion, this ‘Rainbow Nation’ is a whole other culture its self, a culture whereby the sub cultures of South Africa live together in harmony.

“It was through the nation state that we were being constituted as citizens of the world; but it is hard to see how this form of political identity could furnish motives as deep-seated as cultural ones.”(Eagleton 2000:61)

I think that this quote signifies the fact that a change of political law cannot suddenly change an innate cultural one. Cultural ‘laws’ can evolve into a mind-set which people find very difficult to change; it is a set of rigid views , morals and beliefs - the majority of which makes up a person’s culture. Most of the people in charge of the apartheid regime felt that there was absolutely nothing with this arrangement. They felt that it was the way things should be…

http://www.macmillandictionaryblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/rainbownation1.jpg [Accessed on 20/11/11]

The main question concerning the ‘New South Africa’ or the post-apartheid era is – How will South Africa, with such a deeply entrenched cultural & racial segregated past move forward into a liberated multi-cultural society? Is it entirely possible? I can’t help feel that previously oppressed people might seek revenge and there has been evidence of this. For example I remember getting back from school and watching the news, only to see groups of people striking over being overworked and underpaid. This was not a peaceful protest; this was a protest with underlying hate and retribution. My friend’s mother whom I was living with said that it was a glimpse of South Africa’s past. People were burning tyres in the middle of the roads, tipping rubbish bins out on to the street and fundamentally ruining their own land. At first found this appalling, how could they ruin their own streets? But the more I thought about the concept and imagined myself in the situation, the more I came to terms with it.

In my own experience of living in South Africa, I found that the farmers (Afrikaans people) found it a lot harder to comprehend my nationality; the assumption was that i was a South African ‘coloured’ (based purely on appearance) but as soon as I spoke with my English accent they became abruptly confused and couldn’t quite understand. After meeting many Afrikaans people I noticed that before I explained where I was from, I would be looked at quite inversely and it was only after many encounters that I realised what it was. Their preconception of me was so strong that I was automatically categorised and judged, I’d never had anyone look at me in that certain way before. Growing up in London helped me to accept people from various backgrounds and cultures, but in South Africa, things were a lot different.

I also had to get used to different phases that would be referred to as ‘racist comments’ anywhere else in the world, but in South Africa, they were in fact socially accepted. For example ‘’the blacks’’ or ‘’the whites’’ and even the word ‘’collored’’ being referred at to collored myself I found degrading. However surprisingly and over time I came to terms with the expression and began to refer to myself as coloured and even started used the phrase myself!

"Human relations cannot be peaceful, satisfactory, and happy until placed on the basis of mutual self-respect. The proper name for people, has thus become, in this period of crucial change and rapid reformation on a world scale, a vital factor in determining basic attitudes involving how, and even whether, people will continue to live together on this shrinking planet." - Richard B. Moore

Politics and culture are continuously changing in the expanding world we live in, but the linguistics hasn’t shifted to accommodate these changes. The post-apartheid South African state is thought-provoking; here we have a country bursting with potential if their pursuit for building a new nation becomes a reality. South Africa has one of the most stunning geographical landscapes followed by spectacular views and an all year round desirable climate. South African culture at its best is known for their hospitality and friendliness- contrary to their past. I think that over time people are beginning to view South Africa as a safe and pleasant place to visit. Well known events that take place such as the FIFA World Cup also contribute to the global perspective of South Africa. In my later blogs I will begin to explain how the events and media industry can help revolutionise the widespread view of a country.

http://www.africanholocaust.net/articles/SOUTH%20AFRICA%2010%20DAYS.htm [Accessed on 16/11/2011]

A Rainbow Nation

 In January 1991, Gordon Van De Merve (editor of military magazine) shot himself and his family, a letter was found by his neighbour explaining that he saw no future in ‘The New South Africa’ http://www.jstor.org/pss/2934900 [Accessed on 26/10/2011

This scenario clearly demonstrates how values and beliefs (culture) can be so strong. Apartheid was so culturally embedded and a change of legislation alone could never determine the transformation itself.  Although I was dismayed by this man’s actions, I can also say that he was somewhat brave and honest with what he did. Many people in South Africa still live with the deep animosity and secretly seek revenge, but they would not dare to take any action on how they felt unless it was some sort of mass verdict. People find it easier to express their emotions in large groups – protests etc. This is because it eliminates the chance of them being personally liable. So although I do not approve with Van De Merve’s naïve reaction to ‘the end of apartheid’ I can give him credit for his rectitude.

 South Africa, which is also referred to as ‘the rainbow nation’ has one of the most complex and diverse culture in the world, it is so ethnically rich. However, their historical past has had a detrimental effect on how the world views the country as a whole, many people associate South Africa with crime, apartheid and poverty. Although these are still fairly current, they are far more in subtle than in the past or how the media tends to speculate.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--nyFW18AV20/Tjenc4GDpkI/AAAAAAAACyE/spOv_kVs-Bg/s1600/africa.png [Accessed on 26/10/2011]

The media and technology has an impact on how people view South Africa, sadly, the word Africa conjures up images of deprived people, AIDS, and devastation. Numerous people still view South Africa as a racist nation; this is because during apartheid the media revealed the dreadful events that took place during the apartheid era. The media also tends to focus on broadcasting and amplifying the bad news.

 http://downatthirdman.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/end-apartheid-now.jpg [Accessed on 9/11/11]

In 1990, the National Party Government lifted the ban on African National Congress and released Nelson Mandela; this date marks ‘the end of apartheid’ but a law conversion was nowhere near enough to transfigure the inexpressible psychological trauma the oppressed people had gone through. It was not enough to cover up the obvious anxieties surrounding the imminent transition of ‘power’ how on earth were such physically and mentally oppressed people able to suddenly rise up and become empowered? In my opinion, the only way this changeover will be possible is through education.

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/4030/PreviewComp/SuperStock_4030-4590.jpg [Accessed on 01/11/2011]

 

I spent 5 years of my life in South Africa, from ages 15 – 20, from being in an independent school in North London to suddenly finding myself in a private boarding school in Port Elizabeth. In the beginning it was a huge culture shock for me; I remember my fist lesson in Afrikaans, I didn’t even know the language existed and yet it was compulsory for everyone study, needless to say my first oral was horrific. Spending time in the boarding house allowed me to adjust to the societal changes, I made many friends and my residence became like home from home. After making friends I was able to sign out to their houses on the weekends, this allowed me to see different parts of the Eastern Cape.I think being in the boarding house somewhat restricted me into seeing other aspects of SA culture, the majority of pupils at my school were middle class white people of the same cultural background. After 3 years in the boarding house i moved to Jeffery’s bay with a close friend and her family where I got a profound insight into South African culture. I grew to love, appreciate and understand their way of life.

 

From my experience, South Africa had two realities, one in which rich (majority white) people live in huge houses, send their children to private school and usually have their own business. On the other hand of the spectrum you have poverty stricken shanty towns with people struggling to make a living and often result in begging. What shocked me most is that these two realities can be of such close proximity to each other and that the reality of the situation is evidently ignored. When I first noticed the apparent difference my heart went out to the all the unfortunate people, I would always reach into my pocket and give change; I knew this wouldn’t make much of a difference but it made me feel sincere. Conversely, towards the end of my time in South Africa I began to get accustomed to the situation, I suppose being confronted by this reality on a daily basis made me somewhat oblivious. It wasn’t that I purposely chose to ignore the situation, but an unconscious decision to disregard the obvious as a means of ‘sheltering’ myself to avoid getting emotionally drawn in.