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11 June 2021
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Story Rulanzen Martin
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Photo Courtesy of artists and the Johannes Stegmann Gallery.
Liminality is an exhibition of first-, second- and third-year student’s work in the
Department of Fine Arts at the University of the Free State (UFS). The works are from 2019 and 2020. Created during the hard lockdown of 2020, the artworks provide a glimpse of what students had to deal with and overcome during these times.
In a proposal for the exhibition, Angela de Jesus, Curator of the UFS Art Galleries, wrote: “The subtitle of the exhibition is ‘threshold, transition, transformation’ and it refers to the creative processes that students engaged with
in these adverse circumstances resulting in a wide array of artworks in both traditional and adapted mediums.”
The exhibition speaks to our shared experiences of insecurity, fragility, and discord, and to the resourcefulness and immutability of creative expression.
The virtual exhibition runs until 2 July 2021.
The exhibition is also currently available for viewing at the Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery, Sasol Library, UFS Bloemfontein Campus. Monday - Friday 09:00 - 16:00.
MEGAN JOHNS, Battleground, Tobacco, charcoal dust, plaster of paris and resin, 93.5 x 50 x 7.5 cm
JACOBETH SELINGA, Linda, Installation: Found bed, wool and thread, 257 x 196 x 91 cm
POLOKO MOHANOE, Prayer for rain, Gouache on Fabriano, 66 x 72.8 cm
SEBOTSE SELAMULELA, In my image (Coronavirus head), Clay, 35 x 40 x 60 cm
WILLIAM SHAER, Creator, Deconstructed chair, koat wood and Imbura wood, 100 x 75 x 45 cm
Johannes Stegmann Gallery
Interior of the Johannes Stegmann Gallery
Meet our Council: Marius Swart – a Councillor with deep roots in the UFS
2017-07-12
Marius Swart, Alumni election on the UFS Council.
Photo: Stephen Collett
Marius Swart, a Kovsie alumnus, is an Alumni election on the University Council. Not only is he a Kovsie alumnus, but all four of his siblings and their spouses are Kovsie alumni, as well as all three his children.
Interest in future decisions at the UFS
He is currently practicing as cardiothoracic surgeon at Mediclinic in Bloemfontein, but has always been involved with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the university. He spent eight years as consultant in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and recently became a registered student again when he enrolled for an interdisciplinary PhD. He is currently also supervisor for the research projects of undergraduate medical students.
Thus, Marius no doubt has a substantial interest in the issues and future decisions at the UFS.
Guard against retroformation
"Higher education is a challenging environment and expectations about excellence and human development are being tested. Transformation is on everybody’s lips, but we have to guard against what I would call retroformation – moving back to old regimes and new forms of exclusion," he says.
Marius is excited to begin his term with a new Rector and Vice-Chancellor. He realises that many challenges awaits him as councillor on the way forward, but he is ready to pull his weight in Council.
"My own daughter is involved in the challenges students are experiencing on a daily basis, and my wife is supporting a first-generation rural student. The university should be sensitive to these students. Empowering them can bring change to communities."
His interests are varied and it is clear that he has a vision for a better world.