Exiled but not Forgotten
Kgole, Giggs Kgonamotse
Kgole, Giggs Kgonamotse
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Abstract
The artistic landscape of South Africa has been profoundly shaped by its political history, notably the period recognized as Apartheid. This era, which extended from 1948 to the early 1990s, was characterized by a systematic implementation of racial segregation and discrimination. The Afrikaans term "Apartheid," means "separateness,"1 aptly describes this phase that set South Africa under the weight of a new rule. The National Party—mostly Afrikaners, Dutch settlers' kin—put this into play. Laws split people by race: whites had the power in politics and cash flow, and blacks and other non-whites fell to the side, were held down, and kept out. Every slice of life had rules on who could live where, who could work what job, or even mix with whom - all sowing seeds of deep unfairness for those not born white. The harsh system faced years of struggle until the early 1990s when change took root slowly but surely thanks to the battles fought by the ANC. During this time, in art practices, social realism saw a rise in influence, and South African artists began using the style to portray the realities of the black community during the Apartheid period. Art was a form of expression uniformed by a style that allowed artists to depict the honest everyday life experience of non-white South Africans. Even through exile their voice and art stood out to paint the realities of black South Africa. This research aims to understand the nature of political repression and how resistance during the Apartheid period impacted the development of South African art, by studying the works of two South African-born artists Gerard Sekoto (1913-1993) and Dumile Feni (1942-1991), to understand the role of art in promoting social activism as a tool to change South Africa. This thesis will provide deep insight into the life and work of these two talented artists who, even through exile, never forgot where they came from and continued to advocate for an equal South Africa for all.
Description
Thesis (B.A. in Art History, Minor in Art and Design/Communication)--John Cabot University, Fall 2023.
Date
2023
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Keywords
Apartheid, Sekoto, Gerard, 1913-1993, Feni, Dumile, 1942-1991, South African art, South African drawing
Citation
Kgole, Giggs Kgonamotse. "Exiled but not Forgotten". BA Thesis, John Cabot University, Rome, Italy. 2023.