A Workshop and Series of Lectures at The University of Johannesburg

South Africa Mon 11-07-2011

A Workshop and Series of Lectures at The University of Johannesburg
Press Release | The University of Johannesburg

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) presents a series of lectures and workshop hosted by the Research Centre, Visual Identities in Art and Design.

University of Johannesburg

The University of Johannesburg

Former curator at the Nelson Mandela Art Museum, Wendy Gers will be the guest speaker. Wendy Gers currently lectures at l’Ecole Supérieure d’Art et de Design, Valenciennes, France. She has authored various museum catalogue articles, and published in journals including Art South Africa, Ceramic Review, Stephen Welz & Sotheby's etc.

She completed her MA (cum laude) on South African potteries from the 1950s and is currently undertaking her doctoral studies at the University of the Arts, London. Gers is a Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg.

Schedule:

On Wednesday, 20th July 6.30-07.30pm, there will be a public lecture by Steven Cohen at the FADA Auditorium.

This lecture will present a critical overview of Cohen's oeuvre, focusing on the past 8 years, in which he has been based in France. Cohen's provocative performances have attracted attention from prominent French institutions, such as the Centre Pompidou, among others.

The lecture will include video extracts of recent work, and will focus on 'The Cradle of Humanity', a piece he recently created for the theatre, which explores questions of identity, race, evolution and colonialism.

On Thursday, 21 July, Robyn Orlin will be lecturing at the FADA Auditorium from 6.30-7.30pm.

This lecture will present a critical overview of Orlin's oeuvre, focusing on the past 8 years, in which he has been based in Germany and working in France.

Tracing her trajectory from 'Daddy, I've seen this piece 6 times before and I still don’t know why they’re hurting each others…' to her current work in progress on the Sara Baartman, '...have you hugged, kissed and respected your brown Venus today?'.

The lecture will include video extracts of recent work, and will focus on 'Walking next to our shoes… intoxicated by strawberries and cream, we enter continents without knocking', and her opera, L’Allegro, il penseroso ed il moderato that she created for the troupe of star ballerinas of the Opéra national de Paris.

Friday, 22nd July will see the Southern African Ceramics Workshop. This will be an overview of principal Modern potteries in Southern Africa, including a consideration of the problematics associated with the integration of indigenous traditions into Modern Western media (glazed stoneware domestic and artistic pottery).

The morning commences with a review of major trends and landmarks in Southern African ceramics from the 1950s to present. This will be followed with an informal round-table, where participants (potters/ceramists/artists) will requested to bring a work for discussion, and offer their opinion on 'where to now' with respect to their own work.

The afternoon will have a lecture wil be on the 'SA Ceramics Industry 1655-1950-The Colonial Cringe-A Postcolonial Perspective.'

This lecture will survey the establishment of the ceramics industry in South Africa, from the earliest VOC pottery to the post-war period. Why did South Africa have such difficult time establishing a ceramics industry. The industry struggled intensely against a variety of difficulties, including the flotsam and jetsam of imported British and European ceramics.

The lecture will also consider other factors influencing the industry, especially a sense of psychological inferiority experienced by the young nation. As we will see, the colonial cringe endured well into postcolonial period...

The venue for this day will be the FADA Building, Bunting Road Campus, Room LG 35 in morning and FADA auditorium in afternoon.

For further information please contact:

Leora Farber,
Director-Research Centre, Visual Identities in Art and Design
Tel: (+27) 011 559 1393
Fax: (+27) 011 559 1136
Email: leoraf@uj.ac.za.

Please note that booking for the Friday workshop is essential, and you can contact Leora Farber (above) to book a place.

Posted By: Allan Kapten

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