By Minenhle Zikhali & Nosihle Mthembu
A Durban University of Technology (DUT) lecturer recently staged an exhibition and book launch at the Art Gallery Department.
Lee Scott Thompson, who teaches drawing and illustration to Fashion and Textile Design students, spoke about how the inspiration for her work ranges from her childhood in Zimbabwe to the dark moment of the passing of her father. She added that she had an opportunity to go to Germany through DUT, where she took a basic animation course.
With regard to the kind of showcasing she chose, the artist said: “I’ve been doing a bit of film stuff and playing around. That made it a whole stronger story for me and then I got brave, and thought to myself ‘why don’t you do a book?’, so I just decided to pull everything together like the paintings, the video, the form poetry and the poems together because there was a relationship that was happening altogether.”
Francesa Verga, the curator of the Art Gallery, said that the establishment decided to stage Thompson’s exhibition and a book launch together. Her book is titled Just A Hustle Ok.
Verga added: “In the exhibition, there are also digital prints, paper cut works, videos and the book launch. We felt that given Lee’s association with the university, and because she is also an active member of the Durban art scene, that it made sense for her to launch her book here.”
Art enthusiasts who attended the opening spoke about how the art being showcased spoke to them.
Asenathi Makhanya, a second-year Video Technology student, said that he wanted to expose himself to the world of art.
“I wanted to immerse myself in the beauty of art and to see what is happening today. I enjoyed the poem that was recited today. I am an artist as well. I am a writer, poet and musician.”
Anita Gumede, a third-year Fine Art student said: “I like to (attend) exhibition openings just to get some inspiration and see how other people make art, and how they draw as well to find out about their inspiration. From today’s exhibition, I liked the way the artist uses patterns and colours. The work is striking and capturing. The patterns that are
used and the various patterns that are used are very engaging. They made me want to get closer to see more.”
The exhibition will run until 31 May 2024.
