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23 September 2019 | Story Rulanzen Martin | Photo Rulanzen Martin
Opening exhibition
Some of the artworks from the UFS permanent collection was on exhibition at the Johannes Stegmann Gallery.

When you visit the permanent art collection housed at the art gallery at the Centenary Complex of the University of the Free State (UFS) you will learn something new about South African culture. The 1 200 piece collection is the UFS’s effort to preserve our cultural and historical legacy with poignant works from artist such as Jackson Hlungwane, JH Pierneef, Lucas Sithole, Irma Stern and Azaria Mbatha.

The permanent collection boasts the most diverse collection of contemporary artworks in a public space at a South African university. The artworks are often loaned to significant national and international exhibitions, creating an opportunity for research, teaching and promotion of the UFS. 

The collection has been acquired by the UFS over the past 80 years and comprises paintings, sculptural works, murals, prints, photographic and ceramic works. It includes works of art pioneers from the region and other parts of the country. “The collection hosts one of the most substantial representations of art which was created in the Free State region with works by Frans Claerhout, Pauline Gutter, George Ramagage and Motseokae Klas Thibeletsa,’’ said Angela de Jesus, UFS art curator. It also houses The Human Rights Print Portfolio’ (1996), one of South African’s most significant post-apartheid print portfolios.

Angela de Jesus, UFS art curator and Prof Suzanne Human, chairperson of the UFS Arts Advisory Committee.
 Angela de Jesus, UFS art curator and Prof Suzanne Human, chairperson of the UFS Arts Advisory Committee.
(Photo: Rulanzen Martin)


Recent exhibition showcases works of sensible agendas

Some of the artworks, acquired from 2009-2019, are also currently on exhibition at the Johannes Stegmann gallery. At the opening of the exhibition on 28 August, Prof Suzanne Human, chairperson of the UFS Arts Advisory Committee said the “exhibition does not show all the works but the cohesion between the artworks reveals there is a sensible agenda and sound acquisition criteria.”

The exhibition interrogates the complexities of the reality of a free South Africa. “The UFS collection is a university collection and the works acquired are therefore of scholarly interest. Each work in the exhibition is topical in research circles,” said Prof Human. I have not, I have by Mary Sibande

The exhibition at UFS was open until 4 October 2019

Collection preserving cultural and historic identity 

Contemporary artworks which deal with relevant sociopolitical and environmental issues include works by Kim Berman, Thembinkosi Goniwe, Sam Nhlengethwa, Pippa Skotnes and Diane Victor. 
According to De Jesus the collection “provides an irreplaceable educational reserve for understanding our unique cultural and historical identity.”

“The UFS art collection promotes the importance of visual art for research, teaching, and as a vehicle for critical dialogue. Its aim is to encourage critical thinking and to be reflective of the social, cultural and political diversity of the Free State and South Africa,” she said.

Significant art projects expanded collection’s footprint


Over the years several projects were initiated to enrich the art collection to address gaps in and around the collection to encourage social justice and critical dialogue. As part of the Lotto Sculpture-on-Campus Project (2009-2012) the UFS commissioned 16 public artworks for the Bloemfontein Campus. “Through this project the UFS established the most diverse collection of contemporary artworks in a public space at a South African university, with exceptional works by Willem Boshoff, Noria    
 Mabasa, Willie Bester, Kagiso Patrick Mautloa, Brett Murray and others.” said de Jesus. 

(Picured on the right: I Have Not, I Have by Mary Sibande)


News Archive

Venue change for important Odeion School of Music event
2016-09-21

Due to the unforeseen closing of the campuses of the University of the Free State from 20 to 23 September 2016, substantial changes had to be made to the venues and schedules of The Liesbeth Schlumberger Organ Chair (presented by the Odeion School of Music at the UFS) and the Annual Southern African Church Organists Society (SAKOV) Meeting and Bursary Competition.

The event, scheduled for 22-29 September 2016, will now take place at the following venues:

Wednesday 21 September 2016
15:00-18:00 DRC Onze Rust Rehearsals SAKOV Bursary Candidates

Thursday 22 September 2016
08:00-21:00 DRC Onze Rust, Rehearsals SAKOV Bursary Candidates
14:00-16:30 DRC Langenhoven Park, Organ Marathon
17:30-18:30 Lutheran Church St Paulus, Liesbeth Schlumberger Concert
18:00-21:00 DRC Universitas SAKOV EXCOM Meeting
22:00 Sacred Heart Catholic Cathedral, Late Night Concert with works by Olivier Messiaen

Friday 23 September 2016
08:00-10:15 DRC Onze Rust, Bursary Candidates Competition
12:00-15:00 DRC Onze Rust, Bursary Candidates Competition
15:00-16:30 DRC Langenhoven Park Masterclass: Church music (Dr Jan Beukes)
17:00-19:00 DRC Universtas, SAKOV Regional Representatives Meeting
19:30 DRC Universtas, Liesbeth Schlumberger Gala Concert

Saturday 24 September 2016
DRC Langenhoven Park
08:00-08:30 Registration
08:30-09:00 Opening and singing, Rev Jaques Louw and Margaret van der Vegt
09:00-09:15 SAKOV Honorary membership award
09:15-10:00 General Assembly
10:00-11:00 G Cillié Memorial Lecture, Prof Elsabé Kloppers

Klinkende ruimte: Reformasie deur die kerklied

11:00-12:00 Lecture (Liesbeth Schlumberger): L'Art de Toucher / Die kuns van musikale aanslag/The Art of Touch
12:00-13:00 Lunch
14:30-17:00 Organ Safari, DRC Langenhoven Park starting point
19:30 DRC Onze Rust, SAKOV Bursary Gala Concert

Sunday 25 September 2016
Lutheran Church St Paulus 10:00
Morning Service accompanied by Liesbeth Schlumberger

Monday 26 to Thursday 29 September 2016
Masterclass series Liesbeth Schlumberger - Kurpershoek, Odeion School of Music

For any inquiries please contact Marius Coetzee on +27 51 401 3152, +27 72 338 2240 or CoetzeeML@ufs.ac.za.

 

 

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