The exhibition, Queer and Trans Art-iculations: Collaborative Art for Social Change, features the work of Gabrielle le Roux and Zanele Muholi, and coincides with the launch of the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies.
Le Roux’s contributions, Proudly African & Transgender, and Proudly Trans in Turkey, were created in collaboration with trans and intersex activists from southern and east Africa and Turkey, while Muholi’s, Mo(u)rning, engages with the experiences of black lesbians and queer people particularly in South Africa.
“Homosexual and gender non-conforming people are discriminated against, victimised, penalised and criminalised,” said curator Leigh Blanckenberg.
“As insiders and concerned citizens within the [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex] community who make art, Muholi and Le Roux employ art-activism as a resistance tool and a way to reveal how the LGBTI community exists within society.”
Blanckenberg said that the Ugandan and Nigerian governments enacted anti-homosexual legislation which is expected to put many citizens in physical danger, and deprive them of their freedom of expression and their human rights.
“In Turkey, there is a spiraling number of hate murders of trans women in particular, for the majority of whom sex work is the only available employment as a result of discrimination and social exclusion,” she said.
“South Africa is notorious for the rampant hate crimes that have claimed so many young lives, especially [those] of black lesbians… in the townships. These are some of the issues the joint exhibition addresses.”
Facilitators able to speak on the issues represented in the works from lived experience, will be in attendance for the duration of the exhibition.
They will assist with queries and provide impromptu guided tours of the work.
The museum also created an interactive space for visitors to respond to the exhibition and share their experiences and thoughts.
On 8 February, Le Roux will host an aritst talkabout of the exhibition at 12pm.
On 15 February, Blanckenberg will host a family talkabout of the exhibition at 12pm.
On 22 February, Muholi will host an artist talkabout of the exhibition at 12pm.
The exhibition will run until 30 March.
Details: 011 717 1378; info.wam@wits.ac.za
