Michaelis Galleries is proud to present Between Subject and Object, to accompany the Medical Humanities in Africa Conference, from 28-29 August 2014.
The first of its nature in South Africa, this group exhibition, including the work of both South African and international artists, explores the depiction of human remains at the interface of art and science.
In the representation of the dead, there seems to be a continuum, or sliding scale, between an emphasis on the subject-ness of the deceased individual and the object-ness of the corpse. In this exhibition, the curators wish to draw attention to this continuum as an analytical tool to explore and deepen discussion regarding the depiction of human remains, drawing out similarities and differences between photographs, illustrations, films, performances and objects of scientific and cultural interest.
Whilst the exhibition began with a consideration of contemporary postmortem photography, the focus grew to incorporate a set of concerns around the idea of the ‘real’, whether articulated through objects, performance or modes of representation that are perceived to a particular kind of visual ‘truth-telling’. Photography functions as a key reference then, emphasizing the acts of looking, thinking and questioning.
Death is a universal topic, yet is often inhibited by controversy and sensation, or taboo and nostalgia. In addition to the exhibition itself, panel discussions, a film screening and a catalogue will seek to further explore the difficult subject of representations of the dead/fragmented human body. The project as a whole thus serves as an exploratory gesture, an attempt to approach and perhaps even challenge the ‘fixed’ frameworks we have about dead bodies.
Featured artists: Igshaan Adams (ZA), Jordan Baseman (UK), Maeve Berry (UK), Jack Burman (CND), Jillian Edelstein (ZA), Sue Fox (UK), Paul Greenway (ZA), Pieter Hugo (ZA), Gerhard Marx (ZA), Nelson Mukhuba (ZA), Colin Richards (ZA), Walter Schels and Beate Lakotta (DE), Jeffrey Silverthorne (US), Buhlebezwe Siwani (ZA) and Kathryn Smith (ZA).
The exhibition also includes selected items from the Collection of Medical Morphology Museum (Stellenbosch University) and Pathology Learning Centre (University of Cape Town).
WHERE: Michaelis Galleries, Michaelis School of Fine Art, 31 Orange Street, Gardens, Cape Town
WHAT: Between Subject and Object – human remains at the interface of art and science. Curated by: Josephine Higgins, Kathryn Smith and Penny Siopis
WHEN: Opening: 7 August 2014, 18:00 for 18:30 by Margie Orford, with performances
8 – 30 August 2014. Gallery Hours: Tuesday – Friday 11:00 – 16:00, Saturday 10:00 – 13:00, or by Appointment.
Walkabout: 20 August 2014 at 13:00
Public Mini-Symposium: 30 August at 10:00
Film Screening: 20 August at 19:00
For further information or images, please contact Josephine Higgins
On 021 480 7170 or jm.higgins@uct.ac.za
