In honour of the 150 years of the University of South Africa, The Unisa Art Gallery hosts the "Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta" exhibition curated from the acquisitions of the Unisa Art Collection by Tshegofatso Seoka and Sango Filita. With a strong focus on the African agenda and transformation, the Unisa Art Collection has over the years, collected artworks from the continent that delve into varied expressions of resistance and collective transformation.
The phrase "Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta" Portuguese for "The struggle continues; victory is certain" is employed as the title of this exhibition in order to commemorate the history of the continent and acknowledge the grave and resistant fight for Human Rights in South Africa. The 2023 theme for Human Rights in South Africa focuses on the consolidation as well as the sustainability of Human Rights Culture into the Future, Aligned with the University's 150 celebration theme that aims to reclaim Africa's Intellectual Future, the exhibition not only focuses on the past and past injustices but further looks at the present and explores new ideologies regarding the redressing of South Africa's past and a formulation of new tenets and epistemologies regarding the continent.
Focusing on themes that deal with issues of marginalization and inclusion, loss, mourning, freedom of speech, and the right to love, the exhibition "Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta" explores creative interpretations and expressions of human rights by embracing diverse renditions of struggle and victory within the continent and particularly, South Africa. The exhibition aims at showing works that applaud experimentation and innovation while addressing the prominent social and political issues of our time. The exhibition serves in essence as a celebration of the Unisa Art Gallery as an important component of the University of South Africa in its mission to serve as an inspiring and transformative intellectual and visual repository for national, traditional, and cultural education.
Inspired by the preamble of the constitution the exhibition aims to "recognize the injustices of our past; while honoring those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land. It is an acknowledgment of how far we have come as a country while looking toward the future. Engaging the words "Aluta Continua, Victoria Acerta", the exhibition further asserts that the work is not yet complete as we still haven't achieved the goal of economic freedom for all, or adequate access to healthcare and land redistribution, it is an advocation and validation of the rights to life, equality, and human dignity, furthermore the right to adequate housing, health care, food, water, social security, and education.
Exhibition Ends on 19 May 2022
