Apartheid in South Africa inspires artistic movement

“The story that [we’re] telling is about who we are as agents of change,” said Kim Berman, co-founder of the Laband Art Gallery’s Artistic Proof Studio exhibit during her opening day walkthrough of the exhibit on Jan. 24. The goal of Artist Proof Studio is to create self-awareness and a space of “Ubuntu,” which is an African philosophy that embraces a universal bond “through recognition of our common humanity.”

Students can visit the exhibit to see how the tidal wave of major political and socioeconomic changes in South Africa created an artistic movement of innovation, excellence and engagement in community, which are some of the studio’s key beliefs.

With the 1990s came revolutionary advancements for South Africa. As apartheid reached an end and Nelson Mandela became president, the political changes of the country were paralleled by an artistic movement centered in Johannesburg, South Africa. Berman and the late Nhlanhla Xaba co-founded the Artist Proof Studio as a way to celebrate the end of apartheid, express their desires for reconciliation and raise awareness of important social justice issues in South Africa.

Students are accepted into the community-based arts organization by applying with portfolios, however, formal artistic training is not required. “All they need is the passion,” Berman said. The studio becomes the livelihood of many of its economically disadvantaged students. Internationally celebrated artists such as Bambo Sibiya and Donald Makola started as students of the Artist Proof Studio.

LMU Art Director Carolyn Peter, who curated the exhibit at the Laband Art Gallery, celebrates the studio for not only using art to express ideas, but to teach and bring sociopolitical change as well.

“They do amazing things. They’ve been using art to make people aware of the importance of social issues, such as HIV [and] AIDS, orphans of AIDS and domestic violence … They train people who wouldn’t have the chance at an education, so a lot of people in poverty are learning amazing artistic skills,” said Peter.

Nigel Raab, a professor in the history department, believes that bringing artwork of the developing world to LMU is not only educational, but also eye opening. “I bring my classes here all the time … it brings an international dimension to campus. South Africa is a country with a history of massive problems … This exhibit gives students an opportunity to see what is going on in other places in the world,” said Raab.

The gallery will be open until March 22; it is open Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.