EXECUTIVE DEAN IS SAHUDA'S NEW PRESIDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE CURRICULUM MULDER WINS 2016 EMMA SMITH ART SCHOLARSHIP AWARD PHD IN VISUAL AND ...
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Executive Dean is SAHUDA’s new President Entrepreneurship in the curriculum
Mulder wins 2016 Emma Smith Art Scholarship Award
PhD in Visual and Performing Arts Mhlongo creates largest mural in the Province
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine
ISSUE
ONE
Credits
Editor: Andile Dube
031 373 6455/ andiled@dut.ac.za
Contributors: Bongani Gema, Sthabile Gwala, Noxolo Memela, Sunthra Moodley, Nirvana Ramsaroop and Waheeda Peters
Proofreader: Andrea Alcock
Images: Khumalo Hlobisile, Sbonelo Mthethwa, DUT Photography Department, Morgen Kisten, Michelle Reynolds,
Nic Human, Waheeda Peters and Colourise Photography Studio.
Cover Art: Enamelled Mandala Pendants by 3rd year Jewellery Design students
Layout and Design: Nic Human
Publisher: Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD)
Editor-in-Chief: FoAD Executive Dean, Dr René Smith
2 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesign
Contents Awards and Honours Executive Dean is SAHUDA’s new President 6 Mulder wins 2016 Emma Smith Art Scholarship Award 7 FoAD creatives make the cut for 2017 Design Indaba 8 Nzuza wins big at Zabalaza Theatre Festival 9 Mshibe makes ELLE Decoration Finalist 10 Oparinde represents DUT at national Three-Minute Thesis Competition 11 Jewellery Design students continue to fly the DUT flag 12 News Fashion students at #SAFW17 13 The Brickfield Campus library gets a makeover that reflects its fashion flair 14 Visual and Performing Arts PhD students making history at DUT 15 Drama students explore the ‘i’ phenomenon 16 Entrepreneurship in the curriculum 17 Special Feature: FoAD welcomes new students in style 18 Seminars FoAD hosts successful second Postgrad Conference 20 Simplifying the problem statement 21 Research Designer: The Art of Design in the Research Process 22 Our Alumni Drama’s Mncube makes waves on the small screen 23 Drama Alumnus takes up research residency in Germany 24 Kimosha’s Saree Kulcha kwest 25 Mhlongo creates largest mural in the Province 26 Street artist does his bid for charity 27 Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 3
Editor’s Note
This year while browsing through YouTube, I came across The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer
Conversations where he was interviewing Oprah Winfrey. In the interview, Winfrey was speaking
about her many achievements, including starting her own television network the Oprah Winfrey
Network (OWN) and building a school for girls here in South Africa.
From that interview, my “Aha moment” was when Winfrey said: “There is a common denominator
in the human experience. Everybody wants to be able to live out the truest, highest expression of
ourselves as a human being.”
To me there is no better understanding of why we do all the things we do, why we set goals for
ourselves like getting a degree or buying a house or starting a business. The reason for this is that we
hold the truest and highest vision for ourselves. No matter where you are in your life there is always
that next level.
Earlier this year the faculty hosted its annual orientation programme, which is aimed at welcoming
first year students into the Faculty of Arts and Design. This year’s orientation also included the launch
of the I AM ART campaign which is the brainchild of Fine Art second year student, Shamil Balram.
Congratulations are in order for our Executive Dean, Dr René Smith who
has been appointed President of the South African Humanities Deans’
Association (SAHUDA).
In this issue, you can read about 2016 Emma Smith Art Scholarship
Award winner, Leandi Mulder. You can also read about Drama Alumnus,
Mthokozisi Zulu who is in Germany participating in the Starke Stücke
Festival’s Next Generation Workspace – International Research
Residency.
As always we look forward to hearing your views on the magazine or if
you have any stories you’d like to share, do not hesitate to send me an
email on andiled@dut.ac.za. You can also like our Facebook by liking our
page www.facebook.com/dutartsandesign or follow us on twitter on @
DutFoAD.
Until next term, stay blessed!
Andile
4 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesign
Dean’s Corner It’s hard to believe we are almost halfway through our current faculty planning cycle, which prioritises curriculum renewal; developing research and supervision capacity; interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships; promoting entrepreneurship and social innovation. Curriculum Renewal (CRP) remains a key focus area. Departments are tasked with ensuring all qualifications are HEQSF-aligned by 2018. Programmes choosing to phase out, without new academic programmes in place, risk closure. We need all-hands-on-deck as we aim to meet the critical path. The CRP process affords an opportunity to reimagine, reinvent and renew our curriculum so that it is relevant and responsive – so that in turn, prospective students choose us as a preferred Faculty for Design and the Arts. Our curriculum should reflect our faculty mission to educate and inspire a new generation, advance creativity and engage interdisciplinary knowledge. In 2014, faculty decided that DUT Digifest (Arts & Design Digital Festival) provides an opportunity for project-based learning, whilst promoting, showcasing and marketing our academic programmes. We agreed that Digifest would be integrated in our curriculum. Following feedback on previous festivals, Digifest now takes place at the end of the academic year. You said - we did. Much of what we have been doing over the past couple of years is aligned to strategic thrusts of internationalisation, innovation and entrepreneurship. With respect to internationalisation, we have facilitated partnerships with (amongst others) Ecole Supérieure d’Art de La Réunion (ESA), Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT), and Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) - all of which have resulted in academic staff and student exchanges, which were not in place before. Our social innovation workshops and partnerships are designed to be developmental. We know that although necessary, change is not easy. We are expecting people to think and do differently. Collaborative projects like Rise of the Oxx promote design for social change. Who would have imagined when we started talking about this project that our Fashion students would showcase at #SAFW2017? Thank you to all involved. The lessons shared by the Standard Bank Incubator Head during our 2016 Digifest and on our recent visit to their Incubator for entrepreneurs, during the DHET Lekgotla on Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education, reminded us about the need for ‘design thinking’. We look forward to hosting renowned social entrepreneur and innovator, Dr Taddy Blecher in the coming months. You will be hearing more about these and other projects at our Faculty Board meetings, research seminars and in the pages of Softcopy. A warm welcome to all our new and returning students and staff. Remember, a new year affords an opportunity to start again, create afresh, to see things differently, to choose, behave and think differently. We have been given a blank canvas, page, screen, stage…to begin again. Use it wisely. Be the change… educate. create. René Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 5
&
Awards Honours
Executive Dean is SAHUDA’s
new President
ANDILE DUBE
Faculty of Arts and Design’s (FoAD) Executive Dean, Dr René “At the DUT level, she has already appointed a SAHUDA/NIHSS
Smith has been appointed the new President of the South African mentor, who will work with the Faculties of Arts and Design and
Humanities Deans’ Association (SAHUDA). Management Sciences, to capacitate doctoral supervisors and
support their students”.
Smith’s appointment makes her the first woman president of
SAHUDA and the first from a University of Technology. SAHUDA is a Fashion’s Head of Department, Sunthra Moodley said Smith
body representing all Humanities Deans in SA. deserved this success because of her hard work and dedication.
“Congratulations on this remarkable achievement! Best wishes to
FoAD’s Deputy Dean, Professor Brian Pearce said the faculty is very you as you take on this new project. May you keep on inspiring
proud to note Dr Smith’s appointment as President of SAHUDA. others with your good works”.
“In being appointed to this prestigious position, her leadership is The Drama Department’s Prof Deborah Lutge extended her
acknowledged at a national level. We congratulate her and wish heartfelt congratulations to Smith saying her appointment serves
her well in her term of office as President. This is a high honour as an accomplishment of which we can all be proud of. “The
indeed.” kudos of Dr Smith’s dynamic accolade by extension acknowledges
the excellence of the DUT Faculty of Arts and Design under her
FoAD’s Faculty Officer, Pragasen Reddy congratulated Smith leadership”.
saying, “It is not surprising to see Dr Smith being appointed as
president of SAHUDA. Her work ethic
and commitment to any task/project
is second to none. This is one of many
feathers in the cap of this amazing
women, and I am lucky and privileged to
have her as my Executive Dean, congrats
Dr Smith.”
FoAD’s Research Co-ordinator, Dr
Maleshonae Rapeane-Mathonsi said
Smith’s appointment is significant as
she has constantly advocated for the
recognition of the Arts and UOT’s, and
subsequently for scholarships for the PhD
in Visual and Performing Arts, offered by
the Faculty.
FoAD’s Executive Dean, Dr René Smith; 2016 Honorary Doctorate in Arts and Design recipient,
Ahmed Kathrada and former DUT Vice Chancellor and Principal, Prof Ahmed Bawa.
6 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesign
&
Awards Honours
Mulder wins 2016 Emma Smith
Art Scholarship Award
STHABILE GWALA
Fashion Design student, Leandi Mulder’s collection made from “When people see the work that has gone into my designs and the
second hand fabrics won her another award when she was concept behind it, they see it as something very innovative and
announced as the winner of inspirational”, she said.
the 2016 Emma Smith Art
Scholarship award recently. Mulder said a lot of planning
and preparation went into
The collection first debuted designing her concept. She
at the 2016 annual DUT said she worked on the range
Fashion Show themed for an entire year; doing a lot of
“After Earth”, earning her the conventionalising and research
Most Commercial Range on the current state of the
on Show award. The theme fashion industry.
tasked 38 third-year Fashion
Design students to explore “I wanted my concept to be
their own vision of our next something I really believed in,”
world through their fashion she said.
collections. With this broad
2016 Emma Smith Art Scholarship award winner, Leandi Mulder (centre)
theme, students had to look with models at the 2016 DUT Fashion Show. Mulder said she is happy
at what their beliefs in fashion about winning the scholarship,
were and what they wished to portray to the outside world. adding that she feels like the scholarship will push her creativity in
a different direction.
Mulder says she developed the concept for her range whilst living
in Japan for two years. She says she was inspired by the Japanese She will use the money she won as part of the award to travel to
essence of creativity, their simplicity and organic aesthetics. Japan to do an internship with a knitwear and textile designer.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 7
&
Awards Honours
FoAD creatives make the cut
for 2017 Design Indaba
NOXOLO MEMELA
Several students and graduates from various programmes in the Majubana won the Best Menswear Range award for his Samurai
Faculty of Arts and Design were selected as ‘Emerging Creatives’ inspired Animé range at the 2016 DUT Annual Fashion Show.
class of 2017 at this year’s Design Indaba.
In creating unique garments featuring efficient design, Nivadni’s
A number of graduates and present students from various inspiration is drawn from South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage.
programmes in the Faculty of Arts and Design were selected as When her love for art began at an early age, little did she know that
Emerging Creatives class of 2017 at this year’s Design Indaba. her sketching and fashion design would bring her this far. “I design
ladies wear which are authentic, simplistic and contemporary to our
Sfiso Shange, Wanda Majubana, Nomfundo Cebekhulu, Nivadni continent. Being part of the Emerging Designers Creative Class is a
Sewnath, Nishithi Sewnath, Janine Turner and Lwazi Mshibe held great opportunity to showcase my work. In turn, the programme
exhibions in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. will help me gain exposure in the fashion industry,” she said.
Majubana and the Sewnath sisters who are twins made the cut While her twin sister’s designs are created with a sense of intuition
in the 2017 Emerging Creatives: Extended Class. They showcased in addition to aesthetics, the opportunity will assist Nishthi in
their work at the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts (KZNSA) Gallery. carrying through her range she had showcased during the 2016
DUT Annual Fashion Show. “This is a learning
experience for me. I have met so many other
local designers who can be very helpful in my
journey as a fashion designer,” she said. From
this experience, Nishthi hopes to launch her
own fashion brand and take her designs to an
international platform.
Majubana has always been fascinated by art.
Be it drawing cartoons or fashion designs, he
knew his path would end up in fashion. “I’m
inspired by art, Animé, gaming and music. I
love Gert Johan-Coetzee’s work. My fantasy is
to also just like him, have my work showcased
locally and internationally,” said Majubana.
Nishthi Sewnath, Wanda Majubana and Nivadni Sewnath.
8 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesign
&
Awards Honours
Nzuza wins big at Zabalaza
Theatre Festival
ANDILE DUBE
Drama & Production Studies third year student, Thobani Nzuza them. It is a one hander with a live guitarist (Nhlanhla Zondi),
won big at the 7th annual Zabalaza Theatre Festival held at the employing physical theatre.
University of Cape Town’s Baxter Theatre Centre.
Nzuza is no stranger to winning awards. In 2014 he won Best
Nzuza who won for his one-man show, Boy Ntulikazi, took home Director and Best Production for his first play Shintsha Guluva at
two awards for Best Actor and Best Production. He was also the K-CAP: Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre Isigcawu Festival.
nominated for Outstanding Performer, Best Visiting Production,
Best Music Director, and Best Script. In the following year he won Best Actor for Boy Ntulikazi at
the K-CAP: Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre Isigcawu Festival. He was
The road to winning awards and performing at stages like the nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the Durban Mercury
Baxter Theatre Centre has not been an easy one. Nzuza faced many Awards for his role in Menzi Mkhwane’s play, Secret Valley of Great
hurdles along the way one of which was having his play rejected Kings.
by some festivals but he kept working at it until it was perfection.
He credits guitarist, Nhlanhla Zondi who plays the background Last year he walked away with Best Choreographer, Creative
music in his shows and Kagisho Tsimakwane who helped edit his Achievement and Cameo Role Awards at the DUT Drama Studies
original script. and Productions Student Awards.
“I am very happy and proud of wining the
awards. I thank Nhlanhla who never gave up
on me, and trusted me so much. He has always
been there even though I was not paying him.
I also thank Kagisho Tsimakwane for his great
writing. I never thought this would happen to
me, my professional career will be launched in
Cape Town,” said Nzuza.
As part of his prize, Nzuza will perform at the
Baxter Theatre Season for two weeks, Junky
Jackets will publish his play and he will stage in
again at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival
in June.
Boy Ntulikazi explores challenges that determine
the way individuals reflect on the world around
Thobani Nzuza, who will kick start his Baxter Theatre Season in Cape Town next month with and
guitarists, Nhlanhla Zondi.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 9
&
Awards Honours
Mshibe makes ELLE
Decoration Finalist
SOFTCOPY REPORTER
Interior Design B.Tech student, Lwazi Mshibe has been announced Next year I will be working, and
as one of the six SOLVE finalists in the ELLE Decoration and Adams being new to the Industry I (as
& Adams new talent search. well as others) would love to
have an affordable
Mshibe who is passionate about Scandinavian, biophilic and multifunctional piece
sustainable design was able to scoop top student achievement of furniture rather
awards in both his second and third year. Last year he was one of than having to buy
the finalists at the PG Bison Student competition. expensive and a lot
Lwazi Mshibe’s innovative and dynamic idea
of different furniture that secured him a spot in the SOLVE 2017 design
Earlier this year he was one of the top 40 emerging creatives at the pieces,” Mshibe said. competition top six.
Design Indaba Exhibition 2017.
His goal is to be an interior designer known for designing with a
sustainable yet appealing purpose and meaning, whilst creating a
social awareness of the industry and design theories/styles he is
passionate about.
“Small spaces need more care in terms of furnishing the space,
small furniture is a must in order to have a comfortable interior
design. Therefore I have decided to design folding furniture that
can be tucked away when needed to, like on days you might
be having a large gathering of guests in that small living space.
Doing this, it will help make the space look bigger and attract the
guest’s attention.
Interior Design’s Programme co-ordinator, Susan Barrett and Lwazi Mshibe.
Small spaces need more care in terms of
furnishing the space, small furniture is a must
in order to have a comfortable interior design.
10 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesign&
Awards Honours
Oparinde represents DUT at national
Three-Minute Thesis Competition
ANDILE DUBE
Doctoral Candidate in the Language Practice Programme, and He presented his actual PhD thesis which is on discourse and
Durban University of Technology’s (DUT) Executive President of the politics.
Postgraduate Students’ Association Kunle Oparinde represented
DUT at the national leg of the Three Minute Thesis Competition “In other words, the power behind the use of language in political
(3MT) held at the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein settings. As such, I am interested in the aspects of linguistic
recently. manipulation and misrepresentation in Nigerian political context.
How language is used to achieve political benefits is also of utmost
Oparinde whose research area of interest is sociolinguistics came interest,” Oparinde said.
first place in the regional leg of the competition, which was held
at DUT last month. On representing DUT at the University of the Free State, Oparinde
said: “It is always a challenge for me to take part in
competitions as it encourages me to always do better. I
am honoured to be representing DUT,” He said.
The 3MT Competition is presented by the UFS’s
Postgraduate Student Council in partnership with the
Postgraduate School.
It originates from the University of Queensland, Australia,
and has now become an annual event at UFS. Participants
are given three minutes to explain the essence of their
research. The presentations should cover their research
problem, how they tackle it and why it matters.
Language Practice
Programme Doctoral
Candidate, Kunle Oparinde.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 11&
Awards Honours
Jewellery Design students continue
to fly the DUT flag
BONGANI GEMA
A very proud moment was when the Durban University of Dr René Smith, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Design at
Technology’s Jewellery Design students, who took all the awards at DUT, said she was very proud of the students. She said that not only
the 2016/17 Thuthuka Jewellery Awards, received their certificates did the students win for themselves, they also did for the Faculty,
and prizes in front of their peers on Friday, 03 March 2017, at the their lecturers and DUT as a whole.
DUT City Campus.
“I came here because I think what you are doing is important and
The awards are held annually at the University of Johannesburg by it matters. I want you to know that we as the programme are very
the Thuthuka Development Programme following an exhibition proud of you and we thank you for all you are doing for our faculty,”
showcasing designs from various colleges and universities across Smith said.
the country.
In 2016, DUT entered first and second year students under the
theme: Geometry Redefined. DUT students scooped all the prizes
in all the categories, including the overall prize.
This year’s winners were Ben Buthelezi, Paul Mkhize, Thabo Mapota,
Precious Mkhize, Busisiwe Ntuli, Anker van der Linde, Ayanda Zondi,
Mandisa Nkabinde and Zeenat Adams who took the overall award.
Jewellery Design lecturer Samantha Vincent said the judges at the
exhibition commended the designs exhibited by DUT and were
very impressed with how the students successfully portrayed
the theme. She said after receiving such good praises on behalf
of the students, the Department decided to hold its own award
ceremony to recognise the students.
I want you to know that we as the programme are very proud
of you and we thank you for all you are doing for our faculty.
12 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignNews
Fashion students at #SAFW17
SOFTCOPY REPORTER
Eight Fashion and Textiles students represented Durban in a big
way at the South African Fashion Week Spring/ Summer 2017
Collections held at Johannesburg’s swanky Hyde Park recently.
The students’ featured Janine Turner, Jessica Shuttleworth, Leandi
Mulder, Nishthi Sewnath, Nivadni Sewnath, Simone Bufe, Tide Louw
and Yanela Mtolo the Rise of the OXX Collection, which left the
fashionistas greening with envy.
Well-known designer Gideon and Head of Creative Design explains,
“The mission of the OXX is to restore world order, using whatever
means necessary. Students explored the theme and its meaning in
a fashion context, both on a personal interpretative level and within
the parameters of familiar fashion concepts that they stretched or
reinvented.”
Janine Turner created a whimsical folklore inspired range, called
Chimera. Jessica Shuttleworth, who is inspired by the simple and
rich beauty that our land has to offer,
chose to explore Geomorphology”.
Leandi Mulder brought waste fabric to life
with her ethical fashion designs, which
sent out a message of sustainability and
responsible consumerism.
Twins, Nishthi and Nivadni Sewnath chose
to explore different designs with Nishthi
drawing inspiration from the medical field
and Nivadni went on a journey informed
by the Xhosa Abakwetha blanket.
Simone Bufe used three-dimensional
handwork to explore human and
elemental textures to find beauty in decay.
Tide Louw looked at the nomad: rootless,
roving, drifting. Yanela Mtolo created a
range inspired by traditional Xhosa women’s costumes styled with
second hand items in a return to her roots.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 13News
The Brickfield Campus library gets a
makeover that reflects its fashion flair
BONGANI GEMA AND ANDILE DUBE
The department of Fashion and Textiles’ library was recently centred in repurposing the space. We thank both teams for their
remodelled to be more student centred- an initiative which seeks efforts in flying the DUT flag high,” said Professor Gwele.
to further enhance some of the University’s strategic goals outlined
in the 2015/19 DUT strategic plan. Both teams worked tirelessly in establishing a flexible, safe and
secure working environment by improving the physical working
Deputy Vice Chancellor: Teaching and Learning, Professor space of the library. Work towards remodelling the library began in
Nomthandazo Gwele applauded DUT’s Library Service and the 2015. Although the work was done under a very tight budget, an
department of Fashion and Textile for their joint effort in re- end product was their planned library.
launching the Brickfield Campus library.
The floor plan of the library was changed to set up a computer lab that
“We acknowledge this gesture by both the Library Services team doubles up as training space and an open-e-zone, with improved air
and the department of Fashion and Textile for being student conditioning supply, increased sitting and wall treatment to reflect
the campus’s fashion flair.
Faculty of Arts and Design Executive Dean,
Dr René Smith said a shift was noted
towards a demand for more engaging
spaces in libraries.
She said Libraries are no longer just
about reading books in silence, but also
about engaging with online, multimedia
resources in a way that makes our students
feel comfortable, whether it’s with their
headphones on listening to music or in a
space where talking and engaging with
others is allowed ”.
FoAD’s Executive Dean, Dr René Smith; DUT’s
Libraries Director, Lucille Webster and DUT’s
Deputy Vice Chancellor: Academic, Professor
Nomthandazo Gwele.
14 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignNews
Visual and Performing Arts PhD
students making history at DUT
WAHEEDA PETERS
The Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) is embarking on a new qualification makes doctoral level study available to all the relevant
chapter by offering an exciting Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree departments and programmes in the Faculty of Arts and Design,
in Visual and Performing Arts. including: Drama, Fine Art and Jewellery Design, Fashion, Graphic
Design, Interior Design, Photography, and Video Technology.
This degree will give students the opportunity to completely “Students from disciplines not covered by DUT programmes could
immerse themselves in the study of the performing arts medium also study for this qualification with suitable supervisors. It is the
that inspires them. first time such a qualification has existed in KwaZulu-Natal, and has
the potential to develop a very exciting group of transdisciplinary
Talking about this exhilarating chapter, Associate Professor in the research students in time,” he said.
Department of Visual Communication Design, Prof Rolf Gaede said
there is already the first intake of two PhD students in Visual and FoAD’s Deputy Dean, Prof Brian Pearce said the PhD in Visual and
Performing Arts which took place this year, 2017. Performing Arts is an exciting new venture in the Faculty of Arts and
Design. He also added that the new PhD should have wide appeal
“They are Greg Streak and Nadas Pillay, who are registered and a in the faculty and beyond, allowing for an approach to research
few more may follow as the year proceeds. Both candidates are which incorporates the creativity of the artist. “In the Faculty of
currently working on their research proposal,” he said elatedly. Arts and Design, this generic PhD degree will be of a value in a
number of our disciplines, such as Graphic Design, Interior Design,
According to Piers Carey from the Department of Visual Fashion Design, Jewellery Design, Fine Art, Photography and
Communication Design, the curriculum is pretty much self-defined, Drama Studies. We hope that postgraduates from other universities
in that every student is required to develop and complete a self- will be interested in applying to study for the new degree. We’ve
motivated research project in whatever specialised area of the had expressions of interest from several overseas universities and
Visual and Performing Arts interests them. He also added that the colleges,” he added.
DUT’s Prof Rolf Gaede
and Dr Philippa Kethro
with PhD students
Greg Streak and Nadas
Pillay, at the Faculty of
Arts and Design, City
Campus.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 15News
Drama students explore
the ‘i’ phenomenon
SOFTCOPY REPORTER
Durban University of Technology’s Department of Drama and The play explored media and media platforms, the divisions
Production Studies hosted a five-day ground-breaking workshop created by employment, economics, and education. Further, The
piece, titled ‘i’. ironies of what enamours and dissatisfies the youth.
‘i’ conceptually explored the prefix -i- and how attaching this letter Lutge said: “The conceptual principle of workshop rests on shared
to any word contemporizes the object, positioning it in a youthful ownership. In this work I have enjoyed the process of circling and
world of frivolity, glamour, and self-affirmation amid global wealth drinking from the same well as Donna Steel, Lee-Ann Naicker and
and extreme disenfranchisement. Rowin Munsamy. Hearing their voices reverberate through the
long corridors and deep crevices and wide spaces and merge
This poignant piece of theatre saw third year students tackle the with student interaction has been a constant reminder that
social media beast in a way that speaks directly to our youth, and the narratives of memory, derive not from isolated pockets of
indeed, to many in the older generations who are feeling the ever- knowledge but from communal shared meanderings.”
increasing pressure to be techno-savvy.
The production was multi-layered, weaving a complex network of
i-associations, i-understandings, and i-dynamics that encompass
the world we live in.
The play asked: “who am I and do I count?” It interrogated the
impact of technology on lives and how this shift in focus catapults
lives into fast-forward momentary chaos.
Drama’s HoD, Prof Debbie Lutge directed one of the three chapters
and Rowin Munsamy, Lee-Ann Naicker and Donna Steel also
directed a chapter each.
16
Drama students during the show, ‘i’ .
www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignNews
Entrepreneurship in the curriculum
NIRVANA RAMSAROOP AND ANDILE DUBE
The Department of Higher Education and Training recently hosted we need to work collaboratively to prepare students to become
a Lekgotla on Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education job creators and not job seekers.”
at Resolution Circle in Johannesburg.
Dr Smith explained, “During the Lekgotla I managed to reconnect
Addressing the conference, Deputy Minister of Higher Education with colleagues from the social entrepreneurship and innovation
& Training, Mduduzi Manana emphasised the Department’s space whom I had worked with previously and who were very
commitment to making entrepreneurship a priority within the interested to hear about what we were doing at DUT”.
sector. The strategic approach of the Lekgotla was to emphasise
that students can be equipped with an entrepreneurial Smith explained that they also visited the Standbank Incubator
mindset and skillset. It is up to universities to create a culture in Rosebank as well as a store run by DUT Fashion Alumnus
of entrepreneurship, and for entrepreneurial activity to be and entrepreneur, Shingai Nyagweta. “It was a fitting to end the
encouraged, supported and recognised. workshop by interacting with entrepreneurs and innovators. It
was particularly encouraging to have met a Fashion alumnus who
The Lekgotla allowed faculty to develop relationships towards makes a living from selling children’s wear at 44 Stanley in Milpark,
entrepreneurship development. The Faculty of Arts and Design Johannesburg. You can read more on Kuna Kids at
has been fostering entrepreneurial careers for graduates over www.kuna.co.za. Support our graduates - buy local”, she said.
the decades and we hope to now implement a formalized
entrepreneurial space to grow young entrepreneurs within the Ramsaroop will be serving on the Entrepreneurship in Academia
Faculty of Arts and Design. Community of Practice.
The Lekgtola, which was attended by government and
public entities, university management, student and
graduate enterprises, private sector representatives
and communities, was attended by FoAD’s Executive
Dean, Dr René Smith, Quality Promotion Officer,
Nirvana Ramsaroop (currently completing a Doctorate
in Business Administration) and the Fashion and
Textile’s Head of Department Sunthra Moodley, whose
department is currently engaged in similar discussions
with local industry and academic partners in Namibia.
Moodley said, “The world of work has changed and
entrepreneurship has become central to life. As a faculty
Sunthra Moodley, Dr René Smith and Nirvana Ramsaroop.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 17Special Feature
FoAD welcomes new students in style
SOFTCOPY REPORTER
First year students in the Faculty of Arts and Design
were welcomed in style at this year’s annual
orientation. The event also saw the launch of the I
AM ART campaign which is the brainchild of second
year student, Shamil Balram. Speaking to first year
students and staff, Balram said I AM ART are powerful
words as they bring a group of people with a
common vision together.
“What it also does, is it unconsciously makes us
approach life with an artistic manner and having said
that this would bring to life hidden creativities within
us. These words carry the information, promoting the
faculty and it has a connection to our Identity. This
is a great way of validation the existence of art,” said
Balram.
Opening the Orientation programme, the Executive
Dean, Dr René Smith encouraged students to make
the most of opportunities to learn and showcase, like
during Digifest 2017 and ISEA2018. She also spoke Shamil Balram, Zinhle Mngadi, Mhlonishwa Chiliza, Julia Ferrandi, Syanda Mbele and FoAD’s
about the importance of being resilient and taking Deputy Dean, Prof Brian Pearce.
the initiative. She commended Balram and other
Fine Art students for organising a student exhibition
at the end of last year. She also spoke about how
Balram had negotiated an exhibition stand at the
2016 Essence Festival, held at the Durban ICC.
Also speaking at the FoAD orientation was award
winning owner of Pinda Furniture and Interior
Design, Syanda Mbele; Fashion and Textiles graduate
and renowned fashion designer, Julia Ferrandi;
Journalism graduate and Africa News Channel
reporter, Zinhle Mngadi; award winning artist and
Fine Art lecturer, Mhlonihlwa Chiliza; and Liam Joyce,
Independent Newspaper’s entertainment content
producer and multimedia journalist.
18 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignSpecial Feature Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 19
Seminars
FoAD hosts successful second
Postgrad Conference
WAHEEDA PETERS
The Faculty of Arts and Design (FoAD) hosted its annual that reduces a complex and differentiated continent to a single
Postgraduate conference again this year with the aim of cliché, what is our originality? Originality, of course, being the
encouraging cross-faculty networking and reflecting on the nature crux of research. My paper is simply a prompt to your thought, to
of academic work and research. your imagination. Not easy, but research has always been more
adventurous than safe,” he said.
Organised by FoAD’s Research Office, the goal of the two-day
conference was to present a range of postgraduate research in The conference continued with various speakers from several other
the humanities, from across faculties at DUT and other African African countries talking on papers relating to e-learning, social
universities, and to reflect on the nature of academic work and media, teenage pregnancy and intercultural marriages, to name
research. The conference also provided the opportunity to discover but a few.
the wide range of research that is being conducted at various
institutions. Smith added that all researchers needed to engage, examine,
interrogate and ask questions. “We need to innovate, push
Opening the conference was Dr René Alicia Smith, Executive Dean: disciplinary boundaries, go beyond the borders and silos. Mostly,
Faculty of Arts and Design at DUT, who explained developing we must situate ourselves at the centre,” she said.
research and supervision capacity has been central to
the faculty’s strategic plan.
“We also know that creativity and critical thinking
are fundamental to our future and to strengthening
democracies. Computers have not yet been able to do
this for us”. She added, “we exist in a world and at a time
where we need to see our work and our research as a
form of activism not only as contributing to scholarship
and deepening knowledge. We should use our work to
advocate for a world where we build bridges instead
of walls; where we try to understand our differences,
celebrate diversity and our agency,” she said.
Keynote speaker, Professor Michael Chapman, an
A-Rated NRF researcher based in the Faculty of Arts
and Design shared his thoughts and ideas on ‘urban
cool’ as a research area. “Beyond forms of colonial
or metropolitan imitation, beyond an Africanism
FoAD’s Postgraduate Conference Keynote speaker, Prof Michael Chapman, FoAD’s Research
Co-ordinator, Dr Maleshoane Rapeane-Mathonsi and Executive Dean, Dr René Smith..
20 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignSeminars
Simplifying the problem statement
BONGANI GEMA
Durban University of Technology’s School of Education, Professor He defined the problem statement as “the heart” of the research
Stephen Mago has taken it upon himself to research solutions that and said it is central to all researchers because it does not only
can assist postgraduate students in developing comprehensive, motivate the researcher to carry-out specific research but it also
clear and convincing problem statements for their research papers. informs the reader of the research whether to continue reading
or not.
Mago recently presented a research paper titled: “The Statement
of the Problem is the Problem!” Gasps a postgrad student at the “The statement of the problem is an analytical explanation that
Faculty of Arts and Design’s weekly research seminar. aims at finding solutions to the stated problem. If the problem is
clear, research questions emerge almost naturally. So the problem
His presentation was aimed at investigating the problematic should always be clear and never hidden,” he said.
nature of the problem statement in research and ultimately get
to the simplest ways that can assist researchers in identifying and Mago stressed that the paper he was presenting was still a work
developing clear problem statements for their research. in progress and that the second paper will follow a qualitative
research design that incorporates primary data collection. But he
Mago said he became interested in investigating this topic when also said he was open for further discussion and engagement on
he attended a seminar and a presenting postgraduate student the matter.
remarked how problematic the problem statement was. He said
he was bothered by the student’s remark and his initial reaction
was to investigate exactly what the student meant.
Professor Stephen Mago (second from right) with postgraduate students as well as DUT staff.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 21Seminars
Research Designer: The Art of
Design in the Research Process
SOFTCOPY REPORTER
The Journalism Programme’s, Tarryn Frankish recently headlined She said much like an artist will change his or her composition
the Faculty of Arts and Design’s weekly seminar titled, Research with a single brush-stroke, a research designer holds all of these
Designer: The Art of Design in the Research Process. components of his creation together to create just the right picture
of what is being researched. In this case, one key-stroke, one
Frankish’s presentation explored how to design a research project change in the design, will mean that an entirely different picture
that creates a balanced image of the topic/s under investigation. emerges.
She spoke about managing all of the components of one’s research
design saying that this requires a certain finesse. Frankish is a PhD candidate in the Desmond Tutu doctoral
programme at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU). She is
“There is an art to balancing research choices across the breadth supervised jointly by supervisors at the VU in the Netherlands
of the research process. A well designed research project will and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa. Her
necessarily deliberate about what literature to include; which research uses narrative theory and method to make sense of the
theoretical perspective to adopt; how to operationalise the stories that young South Africans are told and tell about Apartheid.
ontological assumptions through choices regarding epistemology
and methodology; and engage not only with the standard, Ostensibly ‘Born-Free’ the next generation in South Africa allows for
obligatory ethical commitments –which they must do – but also questions and insights into the psychological legacy of Apartheid;
delve into an engagement with reflexive and critical praxis.” the transmission of ‘trauma’ across generations and the workings of
individual- and collective- memory processes.
Frankish has worked in psychology at UKZN for the
greater part of ten years before joining Journalism
at DUT in 2017. Her research experience includes
supervision and teaching at undergraduate and
postgraduate levels.
There is an art to
balancing research
choices across
the breadth of the
research process.
Journalism’s Tarryn Frankish.
22 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignOur Alumni
Drama’s Mncube makes waves
on the small screen
STHABILE GWALA
Talented and award-winning DUT Drama Studies alumnus,
Wiseman Mncube continues to make waves in South African
television circles.
In 2015, the graduate was appointed as one of the directors
of the prestigious Musho Festival, which showcases up-and-
coming theatre stars annually in Durban. Mncube has become a
firm favourite in theatre circles after winning an accolade for his
performance in Bra Six Two at the Musho Theatre Festival in 2012.
He also gained more recognition for his works by winning three
NAF (National Arts Festival) awards in Grahamstown in 2014. He
scooped the New Writers Award, Standard Bank Ovation Encore
Award as well as the Standard Bank New Voices Ovation Award
which recognises merit and the development of theatre.
His latest achievement is being cast in the role of Sizwe Hlatshwayo
on Ingozi, a recently launched television series on SABC 1. The
drama series premiered on Sunday, 12 February 2017, and tells the
story of how one eventful night on the road tears the lives of three
different families, from three different backgrounds, apart.
Mncube plays the character of a father to a five-year-old boy and Drama graduate, Wiseman Mncube who is on SABC1’s Ingozi.
is also in love with Nobuhle, a hairstylist. Mncube’s character is an
ambitious man, full of vision and driven by success. The character is
also a down to earth young man who loves his family deeply and
would do anything to protect them from harm.
Some people might also remember Mncube on the e.tv. series
Gold Diggers as well as SABC 1’s Sokhulu and Partners.
Mncube’s main focus currently is to continue growing as an artist
and to give his talent life and growth. “Respect, be humble and
work hard in silence like a lioness. Take the love you receive with
love. Be patient, take your time and remember God. A hastily built
house does not have a stable foundation,” says Mncube. Mncube with his onscreen family.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 23Our Alumni
Drama Alumnus takes up research
residency in Germany
ANDILE DUBE
Former DUT Drama and Production Studies student, Mthokozisi During their stay, the participants will develop specific project
Zulu has jetted off to Germany where he is invited to be one of plans, which will develop in co-operation with each other. The
the participants at the Starke Stücke Festival’s Next Generation results of their work will then be shown in the 24th edition of the
Workspace – International Research Residency. Starke Stücke Festival in 2018.
Zulu, who graduated cum laude in Zulu said he is looking forward to
2012, recently left for the Western sharing his experiences as a South
European country so he can first attend African artist with other artists
the 67th Berlin International Film from abroad. “I strongly believe in
Festival; before taking up residency in international collaborations. I wish
Frankfurt as part of the next generation to achieve good connections and
workshop team. relationships with artists from all over
the world. I hope to achieve knowledge
The Starke Stücke Festival is an that will equip me to come back home
international theatre festival aimed at and develop the arts industry further”,
young audiences. Its next generation he said.
workspace takes three phases with the
first phase starting on 3 March 2017. This is not Zulu’s first time in Germany.
The second phase will start on 14 July In 2015, he performed a one-hander
2017 and the last phase will begin on at the Augenblick Mal- a German
30 February 2018. festival of theatre for young audiences.
He believes that art is a universal
As part of the international residency language and the language barrier
group, Zulu and other participants will should not stop one from enjoying a
discuss performances from the festival show presented in a foreign language.
programme, meet international and “At the Augenblick Mal Festival in
local artists and event organisers Berlin, most of the productions were
from the areas theatre, dance and in languages I do not understand.
performance programmes. However, I understood every single
show I watched and that is the power
The group will also discuss their artistic of art- my eyes were opened to the
practices, research interests as well as truth that art is a universal language”,
their own project ideas in relation to a he said.
young audience. Mthokozisi Zulu who is currently in Germany.
24 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignOur Alumni
Kimosha’s Saree Kulcha kwest
ANDILE DUBE
Fashion and Textiles graduate, award winning fashion designer the history of the Saree. Narn also gave Ganas a task to create a
and trend forecaster, Kimosha Ganas appeared on SABC 1’s Kulcha garment inspired by what he had learned at her store.
Kwest where she wanted to learn more about the cultural meaning
and significance of the Saree. “It really was such an educational experience, from the time spent
at the boutique to being behind the lens of the camera, getting
Her quest to learn more about the exquisite garment won mostly to see how television shows are actually put together. I am very
by Indian women stems from her belief that learning is an ongoing grateful and fortunate to have been selected to be a part of the
process of human development and growth. She also wants to episode. The experience has only enhanced my life’s journey and
incorporate the beauty of this Indian garment in contemporary, my knowledge as a designer,” Ganas said.
modern and relevant pieces that can be worn by everybody.
Towards the end of the episode, she produced a stunning
“One of the main areas I focus my attention to, when choosing a structured brown jacket that was inspired by the floral designs,
reference point of inspiration for a design piece, is world cultures. patterns and beadwork she saw on the sarees.
I myself being of Indian ethnicity, find traditional Indian attire
and regalia a rich tapestry of history. Identifying with aspects of She concluded: “I will implement the knowledge I’ve learnt by
the saree in terms of its origin, uses and evolution to present day interpreting the traditional aspects of the saree into contemporary
has helped me gain an in depth perspective of this key clothing pieces that are relatable to the present day market. I would like to
item that is iconic in association with Indian traditional dress. bridge the gap between traditional and modern day dress codes,
Incorporating elements of the saree into unique, contemporary an aspect I feel there is still much to explore on.”
clothing was the main reason
for my “cultural journey”.
During her two-day stint with
the show, she spent time at
Enens, a store that specialises
in women’s Eastern-wear
where the owner of the shop,
Kavit Naran schooled her in
Kulcha Kwest presenter, Siya Mdla-
lose with Kimosha Ganas and owner
of Enens boutique, Kavit Naran.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 25Our Alumni
Mhlongo creates largest mural in
the Province
STHABILE GWALA
Fine Art graduate, Sakhile Mhlongo was recently commissioned by Currently he is preparing
Urban Lime to create a portrait of the African National Congress for his solo show, which
Youth League’s founder and first president, the late Anton Lembede. will take place in June at a
museum in Cape Town; he
The huge 600 square metre portrait of the teacher turned lawyer is also part of the Artists in
was installed on Six Durban Club Place situated on the corner of Residence programme, which
Anton Lembede Street (formally known as Smith Street). This is is commissioned by the
a famous building and the home of the majority of advocates in eThekwini municipality.
Durban.
Mhlongo admits that he
Mhlongo’s artwork is believed to be one of the largest murals in does art because he wants to
the country and the only mural of its size in KwaZulu-Natal to be express what is inside of him
privately funded. for the rest of the world to see.
“God is the artist, I’m only his
In the portrait Lembede, who passed away in 1947 at the age of paintbrush, and He uses me to
30, is depicted wearing a charcoal suit, carrying a briefcase and show people what he wants
walking towards court. them to see through art,” said
Mhlongo.
Mhlongo is well known for his portraits of Anton Lembede and Dr
Pixley KaSeme at the Old Court House, he also created a portrait of
Moses Mabhida at the Moses Mabhida Art Gallery, and he won fifth Mhlongo’s mural of the
place at the Sanlam portrait awards in 2016. late Anton Lembede.
He’s also worked on street art, murals and portraits all over Durban
with well-known artists such as Mookie Lion and Sphephelo
Mnguni (both DUT Fine Art graduates), Dane Stops (DUT Graphic
Design Lecturer) and Faith 47 a renowned graffiti artist.
Mhlongo says he draws inspiration from his surroundings,
experiences and upbringing.
“My paintings focus mainly on the stereotypical views of African
males and females within my culture where men are seen as
gangsters and women are seen to be submissive. But at the same
time I am really questioning the way Africans are viewed through
my paintings,” explains Mhlongo. Fine Art graduate, Sakhile Mhlongo.
26 www.facebook.com/dutartsanddesignOur Alumni
Street artist does his bit for charity
STHABILE GWALA
Aspiring artist and 2016 Emma Smith Art create meanings of their own without any
Scholarship Award nominee, Sphephelo representation or symbols portrayed.”
Mnguni believes that society grows from
helping each other. When he was asked to do the mural, he
was not busy with anything, so he jumped
He recently painted a striking mural for at the opportunity. He said it felt like the
the Bowl of Plenty (BOP) charity shop in right thing to do so that is how the mural
Glenwood. came about and it is good exposure as an
artist.
Mnguni said the mural is an abstract
artwork and does not represent anything Mnguni who will be graduating with a Fine
but he wanted to create something Art B.Tech later this month said he wants to
colourful and beautiful. take the next two years to work and build a
solid portfolio and after that he would like
He explained: “We live in a world where to come to DUT to do his M Tech.
we’re always confronted by symbolism and
representation all the time, and I feel like Sphephelo Mnguni. The HOP Shop is a fundraising initiative
there’s not enough beauty being depicted. I want people to look at of Likhon iThemba - A charity in KZN that runs the HOLAH Baby
the mural and say this is beautiful, and individuals should be able to House as well as BOP a feeding scheme.
We live in a world where we’re
always confronted by symbolism
and representation all the time,
and I feel like there’s not enough
beauty being depicted.
Sphephelo Mnguni’s colourful mural outside the Bowl of
Plenty (BOP) charity shop in Glenwood.
Durban University of Technology | Faculty of Arts & Design Magazine | Issue One 2017 27R.I.P
Ahmed Kathrada
DUT 2016 Honorary Doctorate
in Arts and Design recipient
1929 - 2017You can also read
