Wits Fine Art students raise funds with Pungwe

by | Apr 2, 2015 | News

NewWork15 collaborated with Pungwe @Live Studio for an art exhibition at Noswal Hall Residence. The exhibition was held as an activation of one of many Wits School of Arts fundraising events for fourth-year Fine Arts students ‘grad show’ taking place at the end of the year.

 

FUNDRAISING: Gontse Mathabathe is among the Fine Arts students raising funds for 'grad show'. Photo: Litaletu Zidepa

FUNDRAISING: Gontse Mathabathe, a fourth-year Fine Arts student, is part of the NewWork15 group that is raising funds for the ‘grad show’. Photo: Litaletu Zidepa

A collaboration between fourth-year fine arts students who call themselves New Work15  and an organisation called Pungwe gathered up for their first exhibition at Noswal Hall to raise funds for Wits School of Arts ‘grad show’, taking place at the end of the year.

Guided by the concept of pungwe (an occasion for devotional watching, or an observance) the audience was guided to a video installation display, meddled with musical and instrumental collaboration between Siya Makhuzeni and Nick Field.

Gontse Mathabathe,  4th year Fine Art, said: “We have decided to collaborate with Pungwe, which is kind of a social organisation that brings together different creatives and different artists into one space. Our main purpose for these events is to try and bring a kind of Wits School of Arts environment to Braamfontein.”

The event brought together dj’s, Kapula, Mma Tseleng, beat boy dancers and musical segments from ‘Ippyfuze’ songstress Siya Makhuzeni and Nick Field. This was accompanied with wine and food sold by the Fine Art students.

PUNGWE: 'Ippyfuze' Songstress Siya Makhuzeni and Nick Field collaborated in a fusion of instrumental and musical segments to entertain students. Photo: Litaletu Zidepa

PUNGWE: ‘Ippyfuze‘ Songstress Siya Makhuzeni and Nick Field collaborated in a fusion of improvised mimics and instrumental musical segments. Photo: Rafieka Williams

“The event will help create awareness to the NewWork15 Fine Art student group and make people aware that we do exist in the Wits School of Arts. We also hope to raise funds for our grad show which is going to be an exhibition of our work, while keeping people entertained,” said Gontse.

The Wits Fine Arts students presented a video installation using various images of everyday people, talking about their journeys, creating an atmosphere that integrated with the car installation art work which was constructed in the exhibition space outside Noswal Hall.

COOL KID ON CAMPUS: Pontsho Pilane

by | Mar 13, 2015 | Opinion

Pontsho Pilane. Photo: Litaletu Zidepa

Pontsho Pilane. Photo: Litaletu Zidepa

Pontsho Pilane is a Media Honours student who writes for The Daily Vox. An unapologetic feminist, Pilane describes herself as a “force to be reckoned with”.

You’re a student, and also juggling your journalist career at The Daily Vox. How has that experience been for you?
Working at The Daily Vox has been one of the most fulfilling endeavours of my life. I’ve met so many people and my mind has been stretched. I am constantly put in a position where I have to acknowledge how privileged I am all the time.

Your thoughts on female empowerment or feminism?
In a society where women, especially black women, have been marginalised how can I not be a feminist? Feminism is not just about equality, but justice and reformation. A woman should not be afraid to wear whatever she wants out of fear for being harassed. A boy should not be afraid to take up cooking because of his gender. And that’s why I am a feminist.

Your interests stems from gender, class and social identity. Why?
To be a woman and black is to be forced into activism. The fact that one cannot walk in Braam or to Bree without constantly being cat-called or groped is a problem. How many girls and women use public transport daily? Too many, and to think that this is my and their reality keeps me talking about these issues.

Who is the one person you consider yourself to look up to?
I look up to my mother, she was the first feminist I knew. As far as I can remember, in our house there was no such thing as girl chores or boy chores. Everyone cleaned and helped with the garden work. She broke a lot of gender norms.

Tell us more about #sexistSA.
It’s a campaign we started at The Daily Vox. I was in Marikana covering the community’s reaction at the end of the gruelling five-month long strike when a man flashed me. On my way to the police station to report him, I got cat-called by a policemen. This is everyday life for many women. We felt the need to raise awareness about this issue because street harassment is so normalised in our society.