Opening of UKUPHOSA ITSHE ISIVIVANENI, an art installation by UKZNโs Centre for Visual Arts at the KwaZulu-Natal Museum
19th September 2022 @ 5.30pm
The intervention is inspired by the motif of Isivivane, a word in isiZulu which refers to a pile of stones or cairn, as well as a coming together or collection more generally. Common in many communities globally, cairns serve a commemorative purpose, marking places of spiritual or historical meaning. They can also act as geographic markers, with travellers and passers-by adding stones to bring them good fortune. โUkuphosa itshe esivivaneniโ is a Zulu proverb referring to the individualโs contribution to a greater, collective good โ literally to throw oneโs stone on the pile. To create this installation, staff and students of the Centre for Visual Arts (CVA), University of KwaZulu-Natal, have come together to form an artist collective, and this art installation will explore the ways in which objects can be powerful keepers of knowledge, information and stories. Stones have been important in communities throughout the world. We have used them to build homes, to make tools, as well as erect monuments. A stone becomes a witness, a guardian of these stories.
UKUPHOSA ITSHE ESIVIVANENI is an extension of CVA/KZN Museum collaborative creative experiment held at the Museum in November 2021. This year, the collective will focus on story-telling and performance, while honoring the central values of izivivane โ the spirit of community, collaboration, and commemoration. Each participating artist offers their own interpretation of a stone. These โstonesโ will be placed in the Mammal Gallery through a live performance on the opening night (19th September). We hope that the stories of our stones may overlap and combine to create new stories.
RSVP to Nozipho at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 033 345 1404.
Guarded parking will be available in front of the KwaZulu-Natal Museum, 237 Jabu Ndlovu Street, Pietermaritzburg, but booking is essential.