Iziko South African National Gallery
24 SEPTEMBER 2010
Love is a funny thing. It begins at first sight, and often changes with insight. Art, our favourite marriage of aesthetic and semantics, is included in this equation, but it is not spared the spear of truth. Especially when it comes from the media or the mouth of babes. Iziko asked some youngsters what THEY think about the sculptures, painting and installations within its not-so-haloed walls.
Sbu is not pleased with the Jane Alexander sculpture in front of him. “He doesn’t focus on the TV,” he says, looking at ‘Integration Programme : Man With TV’ (1995).
“He has a pain inside….This man is so sad.” The staff seems pretty happy, though, and prompts him to continue his tempered tirade.
We’re in The South African National Gallery. It’s heritage day and Sbu is just getting started. He and other youngsters have been invited to criticise the pieces collectively titled ‘1910-2010: From Pierneef to Gugulective’.
Next on his list is Sithembiso Sibisi’s painting, ‘Going Home’ (2005) – a couple set against a township, with chickens in the foreground.
“This is guy playing music instead of helping her, “ Sbu points out. “This is stupid; he should be helping her.”
Welcome to “Diss Da Art” – an exercise in dissent, subversion and reverse psychology. It’s risqué, it’s honest, and it’s about time. The project chooses children – the innocent, the uneducated, the unregulated –gives them a mic (and an iPod to the winning comment) and 30 seconds to say they don’t like about an art work – any artwork – with reasons, or how they’d do it differently. A facilitator is even on hand to help with translations and thought clarification.
What is Iziko thinking? It’s thinking it’s time to take commentary of contemporary arts beyond its basic boundaries. The diverse selection of African artwork on display has garnered much negative commentary in the press of late and Iziko, in the spirit of creativity and continuity, has taken that and turned it around.
It raises interesting questions. Does contemporary art speak to the wo/man in the street? What is going on in the hearts and minds of South Africa 2010? What is desirable and what is dangerous when it comes to cultural ideas and freedom of expression? And if kids can do this, how mature is media criticism?
We leave the answer to you. Check out the videos here.
Behind-the-scenes of the exhibition « Iziko Museums
October 4th, 2010
[...] Come and ‘Diss da Art’ – watch the videos of our art critic competition Heritage Day here. [...]
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October 27th, 2010
[...] identity took place in Iziko Museum . The Iziko South African National Gallery invited kids to criticize its exhibition, “1910-2010: From Pierneef to Gugulective “to point out that every opinion about art is [...]
Jesse
November 8th, 2010
Wow, that’s brilliant. I haven’t seen such a fresh, un-pretentious approach to art or art criticism in…forever.I believe Art soley for artists and the art-educated is a stagnant and redundant thing that receives unwarranted praise. Brilliant, Thank you!
michelle
November 13th, 2010
Please can you tell me who won the DISS DA ART competition. I was one of the participants and I have not heard anything and I am dying to know who actually won it?
Thanks