Working on the exhibition at the Breaking the Silence exhibition was one of the highlights while working at the Slough Museum. The exhibition was brought over by the Director of the Human Rights Media Centre, Shirley Gunn and Maureen Mazibuko (member of the Khulumani Support Group and the exhibition guide). Their commitment to the project and their work was almost overwhelming.
The exhibition was composed of 3 sections:
Body Maps and Memory Books: Khulumani Support Group used to explore creative memory techniques their physical and emotional histories.
The Fire: Art works made in memory of the fire in which most of the members of the Khulumani Support Group were affected. The fire was deliberately started by the Apartheid Government in 1986 and approximately 6000 people lost their homes and processions.
The BMW (Bontehewel Military Wing): 1985 youths between the ages of 14-18 to protect themselves and their community from the Apartheid police system. This section consists of memory works made by veterans of the BMW.
From the day the exhibition opened, it caused a stir in Slough. Everyone who walked through the doors was moved by power of the works, and by the hardships people endured, and continue to endure on the road to a Democratic South Africa.
The exhibition was brought to life by the guide Maureen Mazibuko. Maureen has survived the most unthinkable pain as a result of her commitment to the struggle, and yet she is generous and caring, and advocates love and tolerance. She was an active participant and her ‘body map’ formed part of the exhibition.
Maureen and I delivered workshops to visiting school groups, during which the young people were able to ask her questions about her life and experiences. We also posed some difficult questions to them. The question which seemed to generate the most debate was ‘do you know that this won’t happen in your country?’ This led to debates around trusting governments and the police force and about being informed about what your country is doing in your name.
Both Shirley and Maureen are committed to the process of healing for victims of apartheid, to remembering the past, and promoting awareness to ensure that people understand that many of the past problems in South Africa did not disappear with the change of government. In general, much of the past has been ‘glossed over’ and survivors of police brutality have not been recognised for their part in the struggle. Nor have companies who benefitted from the regime paid retributions to the effected people. One of the questions we asked in the workshop was ‘do retribution payments help?’ and ‘who should they be paid to- individuals or communities in the form of hospitals and schools?’
These sorts of debates this exhibition generated are essential for understanding responsible citizenship and this exhibition was an incredible catalyst.
As with all Creative Partnership projects, the learning is creative, using the exhibitions are a spring board for creative projects artists lead workshops in schools to explore the issues and ideas which had arisen from the visit to the Museum.
The exhibition was a great success, and I believe it will have had a lasting impact on all those who saw it and who met Maureen Mazibuko.
Breaking the Silence- A luta Continua
Working on the exhibition at the Breaking the Silence exhibition was one of the highlights while working at the Slough Museum. The exhibition was brought over by the Director of the Human Rights Media Centre, Shirley Gunn and Maureen Mazibuko (member of the Khulumani Support Group and the exhibition guide). Their commitment to the project and their work was almost overwhelming.
The exhibition was composed of 3 sections:
Body Maps and Memory Books: Khulumani Support Group used to explore creative memory techniques their physical and emotional histories.
The Fire: Art works made in memory of the fire in which most of the members of the Khulumani Support Group were affected. The fire was deliberately started by the Apartheid Government in 1986 and approximately 6000 people lost their homes and processions.
The BMW (Bontehewel Military Wing): 1985 youths between the ages of 14-18 to protect themselves and their community from the Apartheid police system. This section consists of memory works made by veterans of the BMW.
From the day the exhibition opened, it caused a stir in Slough. Everyone who walked through the doors was moved by power of the works, and by the hardships people endured, and continue to endure on the road to a Democratic South Africa.
The exhibition was brought to life by the guide Maureen Mazibuko. Maureen has survived the most unthinkable pain as a result of her commitment to the struggle, and yet she is generous and caring, and advocates love and tolerance. She was an active participant and her ‘body map’ formed part of the exhibition.
Maureen and I delivered workshops to visiting school groups, during which the young people were able to ask her questions about her life and experiences. We also posed some difficult questions to them. The question which seemed to generate the most debate was ‘do you know that this won’t happen in your country?’ This led to debates around trusting governments and the police force and about being informed about what your country is doing in your name.
Both Shirley and Maureen are committed to the process of healing for victims of apartheid, to remembering the past, and promoting awareness to ensure that people understand that many of the past problems in South Africa did not disappear with the change of government. In general, much of the past has been ‘glossed over’ and survivors of police brutality have not been recognised for their part in the struggle. Nor have companies who benefitted from the regime paid retributions to the effected people. One of the questions we asked in the workshop was ‘do retribution payments help?’ and ‘who should they be paid to- individuals or communities in the form of hospitals and schools?’
These sorts of debates this exhibition generated are essential for understanding responsible citizenship and this exhibition was an incredible catalyst.
As with all Creative Partnership projects, the learning is creative, using the exhibitions are a spring board for creative projects artists lead workshops in schools to explore the issues and ideas which had arisen from the visit to the Museum.
The exhibition was a great success, and I believe it will have had a lasting impact on all those who saw it and who met Maureen Mazibuko.