Book launch of Dialogue Amongst Civilisations

Please join us for the book launch of ‘DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILISATIONS’, a project of Art for Humanity, and to view the exhibition of Limited Edition Prints featured in the publication.

Friday 01 July 2011 at 6pm, all welcome.

Refreshments and a light finger supper will be served.

KZNSA Gallery.

166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood

Enquiries: 031 277 1705

gallery@kznsagallery.co.za

View the exhibition in the Park Contemporary at www.kznsagallery.co.za

Art and Poetry inspire dignity, respect, pride, and freedom of expression, imagination, recognition of the individual, creativity, excellence and human rights.

Published by Art for Humanity, the publication documents the art and poetry collaborations by artists and poets representing 35 countries and six cities with the focus on issues of xenophobia, racism and refugees.

‘This series of conversations is aptly attached to current discourse associated with displacement, marginalisation and imagery that is so often located in protest and resistance art forms throughout the world. It foregrounds a series of deeply moving images and poems which remind of the ongoing ability of art to touch at the very nexus of the ethos of an age. Such imagery is powerful enough to galvanize people to reconsider and address the inequalities and prejudice of our age. It is appalling that in the early 21st Century we still face such degrees of inhumanity, objectification and intolerance. We need to reposition ourselves in terms of a single premise: to recognise the light within ourselves, in order to recognise the light within others, in the process restoring our humanity. (Juliette Leeb-du Toit (Prof) Senior Research Associate, Centre for Visual Art, University of KwaZulu-Natal).

Funded by:

Dialogue Among Civilizations Exhibition Tonight

KZN SA Gallery on 166 Bulwar Road, Glenwood, Durban is host to the Art for Humanity, "Dialogue Among Civilizations" Exhibition happening this evening at 6pm, all are welcome.

Art for Humanity

DIALOGUE AMONG CIVILIZATIONS

Limited Edition Print portfolio

Limited Edition Individual Archival Prints

Art and Poetry inspire dignity, respect, pride, and freedom of expression, imagination, recognition of the individual, creativity, excellence and human rights:

“Dialogue among Civilizations” forms the basis for a new initiative by Art for Humanity.  It involves collaboration between artists and poets from Africa and those countries who participated in the 2006 Soccer World Cup.  The participants were invited to create work on the theme of identity, land, object and belief.  

The aim is to inspire the viewer with ‘moral ownership’ -- through engaging with the creative works, for the public to internalise the values espoused by the art and poetry. These values include creativity, freedom of expression, human rights, excellence, dignity, pride, inspiration, reflection, cultural heritage as well as respect for individual rights and independence.

The ultimate objective is to elicit and challenge the South African public’s views on xenophobia, racism, refugees and foreign visitors in and to South Africa.  These views are presently couched in an endemic magnitude of racism, xenophobia and victimisation of those individuals and families seeking refugee status in South Africa or as visitors and amongst South Africans themselves.

The art and poetry resulting from the project will be exhibited in public spaces throughout South Africa in the form of billboards, banners, exhibitions and posters. A publication has been produced that documents the art and poetry together with contributions from internationally recognised human rights personalities and specialists in the field of sport, xenophobia and refugees.

To view the Dialogue Among Civilizations Portfolio check our blog: www.afhsaportfolio.co.za

Exhibition closes 23 July 2011. 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood Enquiries: 031 277 1705 gallery@kznsagallery.co.za Gallery hours: Tues-Fri 9am to 5pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 10am-3pm. Mon: Closed

Kader Asmal's Passing

By Kailene Pillay

African National Congress veteran and Human Rights activist, Dr Kader Asmal has passed away yesterday June 22nd 2011, after suffering a serious heart attack. Asmal was admitted into Constantiaberg Medi Clinic for a stomach ailment.

Growing up in Stanger, North of Durban, Asmal met Chief Albert Luthuli who inspired him towards Human Rights. Asmal was a great leader and contributed immensely to the upliftment in education and improving Human Rights in South Africa. He lectured in Human Rights Law at the University of Western Cape.

Asmal had a strong opposition to the Protection of Information Bill and urged all South Africans to reject the bill.

Asmal's wish was to be cremated in a private ceremony amongst close family members.

To read more about Kader Asmal's sad passing, click here