Installation inspires unity
INSPIRING: The installation highlights a range of issues.
Wednesday, 05 May 2021
A thought-provoking installation created by first-year Architectural Technology and Interior Design students has inspired hope and unity while highlighting a range of social issues.
Architectural Technology First-Year Coordinator, Niven Naidoo said many students felt isolated last year because of the coronavirus pandemic and the initial aim was for the installation project to serve as an icebreaker for this year’s cohort.
“The brief wasn’t really formal. We asked them to make an installation that reflects what impacts them the most. I told them: ‘Want your voices to be heard - make a statement, make it loud’. At the same time, it was an opportunity for students to get to know each other and what was impacting their fellow students’ lives.”
Student Courtney Gwynn said the first-years brainstormed a few ideas and talked about what impacts them as students.
“Most of the social issues we came up with did relate to everyone. Eventually, we started seeing all these different issues and how people could address it in their artwork.”
Student Astin Solomons said the installation gave every student a voice.
“We got to communicate with people from various backgrounds. Everyone took their personal experiences and placed it into this installation.”
A range of issues from student funding to gender-based violence, racism, corruption and gangsterism were highlighted and each social issue was reflected in a specific colour in the installation.
“The final result was beyond what I expected. This project was over and above the curriculum work and different groups had to come in on different days and it was quite challenging for first-year students to deal with the logistics,” said Naidoo.
He said another highlight of the project was a video created by student, Moegamat Rafiq Toffar, which encapsulated the essence of the project.
Naidoo said blank spaces on the installation allow for more people to add their voices to it.
Student, Liam Peyper said that through the project he learnt that what brings people together is communication and similarities.
Written by Ilse Fredericks
News categories
- Advancement 13
- Alumni 77
- Awards 47
- Campus Life 20
- Community Engagement 163
- Disability Unit 12
- Applied Sciences 110
- Business & Management Sciences 96
- Education 101
- Engineering & the Built Environment 142
- Health & Wellness Sciences 119
- Informatics & Design 82
- Fundani CHED 24
- Funding 17
- GBV 16
- Graduation 88
- HIV/Aids Unit 39
- Know Your CPUT 65
- Libraries 18
- News 3814
- RTIP 299
- Residences (Accommodation) 16
- Staff 667
- SIIP 39
- Students 1315
- Student Health 44
- Sport, Arts & Culture 128
- SRC 4
- Student Affairs 11
- University Leadership 19
- Varsity Shield 17
- Vice-Chancellor 22
- Work-Integrated Learning 22
- THENSA 11
