Walk the migrant journey at Wam
BRAAMFONTEIN - A forthcoming exhibition at Wits Art Museum (Wam) will address issues of migrants and migrancy.
Ngezinyawo — Migrant Journeys was organised by veteran Wam curator Fiona Rankin-Smith, history professor Peter Delius and researcher Laura Phillips.
“South African is internationally infamous as the site of a systematic and pervasive system of racial discrimination,” Delius explained.
“What is less well known, though, is how uniquely fundamental migrant labour was to the making of modern South Africa.”
The exhibition will coincide with the celebration of South Africa’s 20 years of democracy, but the issues surrounding migrancy form part of a nearly 200 year history that continues to affect our society today.
“Life circumstances of migrant workers and their families, xenophobic violence and recent upheavals in the mining sector, culminating in the Marikana massacre, are just a few of the headline issues that confront contemporary South African society, making this exhibition a must-see,” said museum spokesperson Jessica Foli.
She said the exhibition will bring together the heritage of many southern African language groups and would include film, photography, contemporary artworks, artefacts from ethnographic collections, archival documents and interviews.
“In addition, the rich forms of art, dress, dance, music and song performance that migrants crafted to assert and express their humanity feature prominently in the exhibition,” added Foli.
“Like the experience of migrants, visitors will participate in a physical journey through the museum space. They will walk the road alongside early migrants to the cities, who sought work on the mines.”
Photographs and other objects will provide insights into the living conditions and hardships encountered in hostels.
“Visitors will also encounter extraordinarily creative everyday objects, music and performances that transcended the daily struggle,” she elaborated.
A book, titled A Long Way Home: Migrant Worker Worlds 1800 — 2014, will be published to accompany the exhibition and will include essays by leading local and international academics.
Weekend talkabouts have been scheduled for the exhibition and will include special talkabouts for families with children.
Ngezinyawo — Migrant Journeys will run from 10 April until 20 July at Wam, corner of Bertha and Jorissen streets, Braamfontein.
Details: 011 717 1446; www.facebook.com/WitsArtMuseum
