'We, The Purple' exhibition delves deep into SA's historical & contemporary narratives

Gugs Mhlungu spoke to Gillian Fleischmann, Curatorial Assistant.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.

A new provocative exhibition is on at the Javett Art Centre at the University of Pretoria (Javett-UP).

'We, The Purple' has been described as an immersive and reflective exhibition centred around Pretoria as it navigates the country's young democracy - inviting audiences to engage with diverse perspectives and narratives.

The exhibition's title was inspired by the "Jacaranda City", an ode to its iconic Jacaranda trees lining the streets. 

It also pays homage to the "purple rain protest" of September 1989 - an anti-apartheid protest held four days before South Africa's racially segregated parliament held its elections.

According to organisers, the exhibition delves deep into the city's historical and contemporary narratives, including crucial moments like #FeesMustFall and the 1956 Women’s March. 

The exhibition explores topics of protest, identity, land rights and spirituality.

"We unpacked the exhibition through the themes of 'on Pretoria to Pretoria' Tshwane Ra Tswana...speaking to how people usually march to the Union Buildings, the history of our capital city, we also touch on spectra of the underground which touches on mining legacies and histories and then we explore the theme of land. Lastly, we explored the living school - it's the educational element of the exhibition where we feature artworks that are part of the curriculum which educates the public and learners about the history of South Africa through artworks."

- Gillian Fleischmann, Curatorial Assistant

You can view the exhibition Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm (last admission at 4pm) at a cost of R85 per ticket.

Scroll up to listen to the full interview.