Two photography works by our Creative Director, Reino Erasmus, were selected to be part of the ‘Fluid’ group exhibition presented by the Nelson Mandela University’s Department of Arts, Heritage and Culture.
The exhibition aims to raise awareness about the issues of gender and gender fluidity.
Full projects can be viewed at the links below:
Bharatanatyam
BeVryDing
Bharatanatyam
The series, entitled; ‘Bharatanatyam’, features a male Bharatanatyam dancer, an art form which is almost completely dominated my female dancers. This is perhaps due part to the continued existence of centuries-old patriarchal prejudices against males choosing the discipline of dance as a career path, both in India and in other societies internationally. As such, sponsorships and patronages, more often than not, are awarded to female dancers over male dancers. Male dancers, particularly unmarried male dancers, in turn face considerable prejudices from society in which the career of dance for males is construed as somehow emasculating. This trend points towards deeply held prejudices, which are deeply linked to homophobia, and outdated ideas of masculinity and femininity.
BeVryDing
The series, entitled; ‘BeVryDing’ features the 2017 Spring/Summer fashion range of designer, Dalton Smit. His range explores the social conservatism of the Afrikaner culture in South Africa by challenging its traditional views on gender roles and sexuality. Traditional Afrikaner wear, such as; rugby shorts and khaki uniforms, have been reworked in a pastel color pallet and combined with crochet work, doilies and mohair fibers to push the boundaries of personal identity. The range hopes to promote modernity and progressiveness in contemporary Afrikaner society and ‘free’ it from its negative stereotypes. The Afrikaans word; ‘bevryding’ is defined as ‘liberation’. Additionally, each syllable has been capitalized to emphasize the following sub-text; ‘Be’ (to be), ‘Vry’ (Free) and ‘Ding’ (‘thing’ referring to a non-specific gender or sexuality).
Marketing Material Published by Nelson Mandela University:
Portrait by Shannon Clair Offer to mark the occasion.
