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Art for Humanity...'the art of human rights' |
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is a non-profit organisation based in Durban, South Africa which specialises in producing fine art print portfolios, exhibitions, billboards and research projects that advocate various human rights issues in South Africa and internationally. The Art for Humanity website serves as an online resource for those interested in human rights, art and social development. Click on link to view the AFH Blog. | | |  |  | | | | | | |  | to build (ukwakha) a bridge (ibhuloho) of words (lamagama) say neither (akusho) here (lutho) nor there (neze) you (kuwe) nor I (noma kimi) nation (esizweni) nor refugee (noma kubafiki) pout out (memeza) the sound (ngezwi) of we (lethu) The Arts of Bridge Building (Ubuciko boKwakha IBhuloho) | | | | | Australia: Artist: William Kelly and Poet: Joel Deane | | | | Artist and Poet Statement: The Art of Bridge Building | | | | | | “Dialogue Among Civilizations” is a wonderful title for this portfolio, because—at a time in the world when so much is at stake socially, economically and environmentally—so much depends on the mutual understanding that can only come from open and ongoing dialogue. After all, if we as a people cannot, collectively and individually, come to an agreement on where we are headed and how we should get there, we must, at the very least, come to an understanding. | | | | | | This is easier said than done. Understanding requires the setting aside of the ego of nationalism and the blinders of preconceptions, and the embracing of diversity and tolerance. Without it, as Yeats wrote, “things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world”. With that in mind, long before we wrote a word or sketched an image, we spent a great deal of time in wide ranging dialogue. Ego and preconceived notions were set aside. | | | | | | This dialogue led us to two resolutions and one realization. The resolutions: that our work should be positive, an affirmation of the need for dialogue among and between civilizations, and that our words and images would be combined to create an illuminated text. The resolution: that our dialogue was an attempt to build a bridge between two artistic disciplines and temperaments. As a consequence, the image of a bridge became a metaphor for our artistic process as well as cultural understanding—and “The Art of Bridge Building” was born. | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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