The Sunday Independent

Taking June 16 anniversary to new heights

TSHEPISO TSHABALALA tshepiso.tshabalala@inl.co.za

AN ART and photographic exhibition aptly themed Fees Must Fall is set to take place in Orlando East, Soweto in commemoration of the 45th anniversary of the Soweto uprisings.

The exhibition will showcase pictures and artwork from two seasoned photographic journalists and two artists and will take place at Café Bohemia on Wednesday, June 16.

Phiri Mtsamai, the owner of Café Bohemia, and art curator Kumayl Molantoa, the people behind the concept, say they are on a mission to take the June 16 commemorations to new heights with their upcoming art exhibition and that the plan was to turn this into an annual event that would attract local and overseas tourists.

Says Molantoa: “The youth of 1976 took the struggle to the streets against apartheid education. When you look at the Fees Must Fall movement, it’s also a struggle to access higher education.

“The Constitution says it recognises the injustices of the past but the question is how do we go about redressing those injustices?

“The whole idea of the exhibition is to revive the consciousness of the youth that if there is an injustice against them, they must protest and take things to the streets.”

The exhibition aims to tell stories through art while focusing on the promotion of the fights and struggles of the youth.

Bringing together the June 16 and the #FeesMustFall generations in one art exhibition will showcase that even after four decades, tragically the resolution of struggles faced by the youth still has to involve violence and anger.

The artworks on display will range from photographs to paintings created by the four main artists – Bongiwe Mchunu, Bheki Mabaso, Kolodi Senong and up-andcoming Qhawe Mkhwanazi. This is to give the audience variety.

“This event will be more like a group exhibition featuring different artists. There will be a videographer, painter, photographer and lino card artist. We are using the historical event to talk about the current issues. We should use the memory of our fallen heroes to advance the course of their struggles and make them relevant to the present time,” said Molantoa.

Both Motsamai and Molontoa have a rich history in the arts and crafts industry. Mtsamai has been collecting art for almost 25 years and started Café

Bohemia, where he has indigenous plants and herbs and serves organic meals, while Molontoa studied art history and is doing his archaeology Honours.

Molantoa says the exhibition will also give young artists a platform to artistically express their views on how, after so many years, the struggle for education still continues.

Says Motsamai: “Café Bohemia is a platform where young and unknown artists come together to showcase their artwork, especially during our cookouts. Kumayl and I put our heads together and decided to have this exhibition and thought it would be a great idea since these are the same issues that the youth of 1976 were fighting against yet the current youth are still experiencing them.

“This event will be commemorating June 16 while talking to the youth of today through various artworks.”

To adhere to Covid-19 protocols the exhibition will run from 10am until 6pm and only 30 people will be allowed at the venue. There will be food and drinks for sale.

METRO

en-za

2021-06-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-06-13T07:00:00.0000000Z

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