Oldrin Masowa

The whole world is truly an art gallery. From 6 to 13 April 2022, the North-West University (NWU) Art Gallery hosted the official opening of a public art exhibition in Potchefstroom. The exhibition featured paintings from the ages of colonialism to modern society. The opening was presented in both the NWU Main Gallery and NWU Botanical Gallery.

The NWU Main Gallery kicked off with a curation by NWU staff members Amohelang Mohajane, Boitumelo Makouse, Nokukhanya Khumalo and Tsepang Bereng, making use of the NWU art collections. This art exhibition, called Unsettling the Single Society, was inspired by the 2022 African Critical Inquiry Programme (ACIP). The paintings in the gallery are eye-catching and tell a good story, and trigger emotions of amusement, sadness and the appreciation of beauty.

The exhibition in the NWU Botanical Gallery was opened virtually by Oupa Sibeko and incorporated an artist walkabout and performance. a

Alicia Marx (20), form the Faculty of Law , said, “I think the pictures tell a story if you just look at them, especially the one with Nelson Mandela paintings on it.”

Ani Gutierrez Hernandez (21) from Health Sciences said, “I personally believe that the paintings look attractive, and they represent the African cultural background. I believe that this gallery contains important information on the past of South Africa and the whole of Africa.”

The exhibition featured work from Richardt Strydom, a former lecturer at the North-West University.