Art Much? forms part of the UJ Advancement Strategic Communication Publications’ suite.
According to Ashraf Johaardien, “Working closely with aisleb.co.za (UJ Arts & Culture’s strategic partner in intelligent design), every issue of Art Much? aims to reflect the aesthetics of excellence.”
Art Much? forms part of the UJ Advancement Strategic Communication Publications’ suite. Arresting photos by resident photographer, Jan Potgieter, along with articles by cutting-edge local and international arts practitioners, carry a powerful message of vibrancy and quality in UJ’s high-energy cultural consciousness.
“Arts and culture at UJ endeavours to reflect the community that we serve and to mirror society as a whole. To this end, in pursuit of our collective dreams, achievable ideals and a better tomorrow for everyone, our programme creates diverse platforms for students, alumni, staff and the general public. We offer the opportunity for them to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists, who are drawn from a wide range of artistic disciplines. Art Much? is both a key component of, and a tool for, communicating and delivering that offering.”
Johaardien explains that the latest installment of the internationally award-winning magazine is intended as a visual demonstration UJ Arts & Culture’s spring/summer programme, and names some of the forthcoming publication’s highlights: “National Arts Festival Director, Ismail Mahomed, reflects on the role of university theatres; Keats House poet, Laila Sumpton, contemplates creative campaigning for human rights, and S. Serban Scrieciu finds inspiration in reformist architecture, reviewing the 14th International Architecture Exhibition (La Biennale 2014) in Venice.”
UJ Performing Arts Producer, Grace Meadows, echoes Johaardien’s sentiments: “Our aim in all that we do is to create a conversation with stakeholders from all walks of life and indeed from every corner of the globe,” she says. “Irrespective of creed, race, religion, political predilection, nationality, ethnicity, sexuality or preferred gender pronoun, this issue of Art Much? invites readers and patrons alike to engage with some of the leading voices in the global conversation around the role of arts and culture in society.”
Other highlights include Therese Van Wyk delving into the history of the UJ Choir with Renette Bouwer; the phenomenal photography of the Essop twin brothers (current recipients of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Visual Art) features, and local writer, CA Davids, reviews Mark Gevisser’s Lost and Found in Johannesburg as well Dominique Botha’s False River.
Download the Spring/Summer 2014 issue of Art Much? here or send an e-mail to preciousm@uj.ac.za to request a print-copy.
UJ Arts & Culture produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes that align to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. The potential impact of arts and culture in supporting and achieving this vision is of critical importance and cannot be underestimated. Arts and culture endeavours offer a symbolic expression of communities and of society as a whole. To this end, and in pursuit of our collective dreams, the achievable ideal and a better tomorrow, UJ Arts & Culture’s Annual Programme creates places and spaces for UJ students, alumni and staff, as well as all South Africans and visitors from across the globe, to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists across the full spectrum of the arts. Irrespective of creed, race, religion, political predilection, nationality, ethnicity, sexuality or preferred gender pronoun; with arms wide open, we extend a warm invitation for you to join us: Redefine your boundaries. Reinvent yourself.