WHAT U SAY ‘BOUT WHAT?

June is Youth month - aweh! A quintessential “South Africanism” word that is used to acknowledge something (often with shock or excitement) or to greet someone.

Developed by the KZNSA’s aweh! Programme, the current exhibition does just that.

The What u say ‘bout what? exhibition is a shout out by young artists who have collaborated to present an extraordinary group exhibition that sees the coming together of fresh new artistic voices from leading tertiary art institutions in KZN and secondary school arts learners. What is the youth saying about their social, cultural and political disposition after 20 years of ‘democracy’?

The exhibition offers an unprecedented showcase of works from students of the Durban University of Technology (DUT), the Centre for Visual Art (UKZN), the Centre for Fine Art , Animation and Design (CFAD), the Vega School, the African Art Centre, (Velobala group), and the BAT Centre.

The BAT Centre and the Green Camp Gallery Project are collaborative spaces with the aweh! project. Interwoven with these artworks is work from selected secondary schools, a fascinating juxtaposition that raises but does not attempt to answer the question of ‘where do South African artists come from? The next generation of creatives is born with exhibitions of this nature.

There is an innovative edu-programme parallel to the exhibition developed by the Art Team – visitors to the gallery use their smart phones to engage with the art works by clicking on QR (quick reach) codes. On Thursday nights during the exhibition the KZNSA aweh! programme will continue with their gatherings, inviting creatives from differing disciplines and initiatives to make presentations of their practice and passions. In these early evening informal gatherings, the public is invited to participate in open discussion and conversation, a learning experience for all.

What u say ‘bout what? is a project initiated by the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) and supported by the National Lotteries Distribution Trust Fund as part of the KZNSA’s Social art programme 2014/15. Through the aweh! programme, the KZNSA Gallery sees the contribution of young artists as important to their ethos of ‘incubation, transformation and activation’. aweh! provides a ‘space’ where the spirited voices of young minds and visions will be shared, heard and supported, a space for innovation, experimentation and exploration.

What u say ‘bout what? runs until June 21 at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts Gallery (KZNSA), 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban. For more information phone 031 277 1705, email: gallery@kznsagallery.co.za or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za Facebook: KZNSA Gallery / Aweh Kznsa

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