Rational Trans-Positions brings together artists and academics to explore how connection, movement and exchange shape the way we see and experience the world. The exhibition runs at the University of Johannesburg's FADA Gallery from September 10 to October 9.
Image: Supplied
Art does not always have to be easy to explain. Sometimes, a painting, photograph, sculpture or installation can make you feel something before you even understand what you are looking at.
That is the idea behind a new exhibition at the University of Johannesburg’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) Gallery, which brings together 11 artists and academics to explore how people, ideas and experiences influence one another.
Titled Relational Trans-Positions, the exhibition opens on September 10 at the FADA Gallery on UJ’s Bunting Road Campus and will run until October 9.
Curated by FADA Gallery curator Dr Farieda Nazier, the exhibition features work by Christa van Zyl, Gavin Krastin, John Shirley, Leon Krige, Leora Farber, Martin Bolton, Neil Lowe, Oupa Sibeko, Tobias Barnard, Xylan de Jager and Zinhle Zulu.
The idea behind the exhibition is fairly simple: how do our relationships, surroundings, memories and experiences change the way we see the world?
The artists approach this question in different ways and through different forms of creative work.
Their work explores subjects ranging from identity and the human body to nature, technology, memory and the transformation of everyday materials.
Some works focus on the relationship between people and their surroundings, while others look at how technology and changing environments affect the way we experience life.
This variety is what makes the exhibition accessible to people who may not consider themselves regular gallery visitors.
There is no requirement for visitors to know the “right” way to interpret the work. Instead, the exhibition encourages people to look, ask questions and form their own understanding of what they see.
For Nazier, that open-ended approach is an important part of the exhibition.
“Instead of offering fixed conclusions, the works celebrate transformation, demonstrating how meaning evolves through interaction and connection,” she said.
The exhibition also highlights the different ways artists can conduct research. Rather than relying only on written academic work, artists can use images, objects, materials, movement and personal experiences to investigate an idea and communicate it to an audience.
The 11 participating artists bring different experiences and creative approaches to the exhibition, meaning visitors can expect to encounter a range of styles and ideas rather than one single artistic viewpoint.
For audiences who are curious about contemporary art but sometimes find galleries intimidating, Relational Trans-Positions offers an opportunity to take their time and engage with the work on their own terms.
And visitors will not only be looking at the art from a distance.
The exhibition's public programme includes activities designed to help audiences engage with the artists and the ideas behind their work.
Young creatives can attend the FADA4Kids Youth Activation on September 12 from 11am to 3pm, where they will be able to experiment with creative activities and develop their own ideas.
A Curatorial Panel Discussion will take place on September 23 from 5pm to 6.30pm, giving visitors an opportunity to hear more about how the exhibition was put together and why these particular themes matter.
On October 3 from 11am to 1pm, visitors can join an Artist-led Walkabout, offering a closer look at the works and an opportunity to hear more about the thinking behind them.
Ultimately, Relational Trans-Positions is about more than simply displaying art. It asks visitors to think about how they are connected to other people, their environment and the experiences that have shaped them.
You do not need an art degree to engage with it. You simply need to be willing to look, think and perhaps see something familiar in a completely different way.
What: Relational Trans-Positions
Where: FADA Gallery, University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus
When: September 10 to October 9
FADA4Kids Youth Activation: September 12, 11am–3pm
Curatorial Panel Discussion: September 23, 5pm–6.30pm
Artist-led Walkabout: October 3, 11am–1pm
The public can RSVP for the exhibition opening and public programme using the registration forms provided by FADA Gallery.
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