Art exhibition centers around Durban’s fishermen

IF you are a local art fanatic and appreciate the beauty of Durban’s marine shores then make your way down to the KwaZulu-Natal Society of the Arts (KZNSA) art gallery. The Fishers’ Tales exhibition is on display at the art gallery, open for viewing from March 2 until April 3.

Fishers’ Tales is an arts-based storytelling project that collects the wondrous tales that fishermen enjoy telling about their ocean adventures.

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According to Dr Kira Erwin, a featured artist and marketer for the event, “This project explores fishers’ connections and emotional bonds to the ocean using a visual storytelling approach. Each story is accompanied by a unique artwork. The Fishers’ Tales exhibition also provides a platform to showcase the work done by young and emerging artists in Durban, as the project is specifically aimed to support creative students studying in the city.”

The history of fishing in KwaZulu-Natal is where this project originates. The featured artists went down to Durban’s South Beach and continued along the coast until Blue Lagoon and spoke to local fisherman. They looked into the history of the diverse people who live along this coastal province, the daily moments captured by the artists offers insight into these experiences, connecting with the ocean, and the complex permitting regulations that impacts negatively on the livelihoods of fishers’ and their ability to practice fishing as part of their cultural heritage.

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Featured artist and Morningside resident, Doung Jahangeer, a photographer involved in the project said that this exhibition could not have come at a better time. “The Fishers’ Tales project is coming at a crucial time in our society – where environmental impact needs our attention. It is crucial that we raise awareness about environmental issues while we still can,” said Jahangeer. He said environmental consciousness must be raised, “Human beings play a huge part in the effect we have on the environment. The exhibition is not just about the subjects of the art, but what effect they have on their environment,” he said. 

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