PEN Afrikaans se stellingname oor volgehoue kunssensuur aan die Universiteit Kaapstad | LitNet
PEN Afrikaans se stellingname oor volgehoue kunssensuur aan die Universiteit Kaapstad
0 PEN Afrikaans neem met misnoeë kennis dat geen vordering nog gemaak is in die sage van kunswerke wat uit sekere lokale van die Universiteit Kaapstad verwyder is nie.
Feite oor die aangeleentheid bly vaag en die universiteit se gebrek aan openheid maak dit nog moeiliker om feite met feite te vergelyk.
PEN Afrikaans reageer dus op die feite wat wel in die openbare domein bekend is: In 2016 is sekere kunswerke, waaronder werke deur een van PEN Afrikaans se lede, Breyten Breytenbach, uit die openbare oog verwyder. ’n Lys van die verwyderde werk is hier beskikbaar.
Dat werk verwyder is, word deur Max Price, die visekanselier, en Sandra Klopper, ’n professor in kunsgeskiedenis, bevestig in ’n openbare brief aan studente, werknemers van die universiteit en alumni.
Price en Klopper sê verder:
The decision to cover and take down some works is motivated by two concerns: the first is to signal that we have started a process of debate and discussion about how works of art should be displayed on campus, and that we will respond to this debate with seriousness and urgency. The second is in recognition of our custodial obligation to protect our art collection, especially those works of art that have become controversial (whether for good reason or not), noting that in the absence of an art gallery, almost all of UCT’s art is displayed in public spaces. This is necessary while we conduct the discussions about how and where these works should be displayed. Dit is nou reeds meer as ’n jaar later en verskeie rolspelers het al gevra om toe te tree tot die “process of debate and discussion”. Van die universiteit se kant was daar egter nog geen sigbare poging nie, wat ’n mens laat wonder oor die universiteit se “seriousness and urgency” rakende hierdie kwessie.
Hierdie aangeleentheid is vandeesmaand onder die loep gebring deur Yves T’Sjoen, ’n hoogleraar in Nederlandse letterkunde aan die Universiteit Gent. T’Sjoen versoek in ’n beswaarskrif die bestuur van die Universiteit Gent, wat ’n uitruilooreenkoms met die Universiteit Kaapstad het, om hulle stem te laat hoor en die verontwaardiging van die akademiese gemeenskap oor hierdie sensuur tot uitdrukking te bring. PEN Afrikaans het begrip vir die feit dat die universiteitsbestuur die instansie se kunsversameling wil beskerm nadat verskeie kunswerke in Februarie 2016 gedurende die #FeesMustFall-opstande verbrand is. Geen PEN-sentrum kan egter die kunssensuur wat nou daarop gevolg het, stilswyend aanvaar nie.
Die tweede punt van PEN Internasionaal, van wie PEN Afrikaans ’n lid is, se handves stel dit immers baie duidelik: “Onder alle omstandighede, veral in ’n staat van oorlog, moet alle kunswerke, die erfstukke van die algehele mensdom, onaangeraak word deur nasionale of politieke passie.” PEN Afrikaans doen hiermee, saam met ’n groeiende koor van stemme, ’n beroep op die Universiteit Kaapstad om enige kuns wat verwyder, of afgesper, is, weer aan die publiek beskikbaar te stel.
PEN Afrikaans's statement on the continued censorship of art at the University of Cape Town
PEN Afrikaans notes with dismay that no progress has been made in the saga regarding artworks that have been removed from certain public spaces at the University of Cape Town.
Facts about the matter remain vague and the university's lack of openness makes it even more difficult to compare facts with facts.
PEN Afrikaans therefore responds to facts that are known in the public domain: In 2016 certain artworks, including works by one of PEN Afrikaans' members, Breyten Breytenbach, were removed from the public eye. A list of the removed work is available here. Their removal was confirmed by Max Price, the vice-chancellor, and Sandra Klopper, a professor in Art History, in a public letter to students, university employees and alumni.
The decision to cover and take down some works is motivated by two concerns: the first is to signal that we have started a process of debate and discussion about how works of art should be displayed on campus, and that we will respond to this debate with seriousness and urgency. The second is in recognition of our custodial obligation to protect our art collection, especially those works of art that have become controversial (whether for good reason or not), noting that in the absence of an art gallery, almost all of UCT’s art is displayed in public spaces. This is necessary while we conduct the discussions about how and where these works should be displayed. It has now been over a year later and several role players have already asked to join the "process of debate and discussion". From the university, however, there was still no visible attempt to allow for it, which makes us wonder about the university's “seriousness and urgency” regarding this issue.
This issue has been addressed quite sharply this month by Yves T'Sjoen, a professor of Dutch literatures at Ghent University. T'Sjoen requested a statement by the management of Ghent University, which has an exchange agreement with the University of Cape Town, to make their voices heard and express the indignation of the academic community on the continued censorship. PEN Afrikaans has sympathy with the need of the university management to protect its art collection after several works from the collection were burned during the #FeesMustFall protests in February 2016. However, no PEN centre can silently condone the ensuing art censorship.
The second point on the charter of PEN International, of which PEN Afrikaans is a member, reads: "In all circumstances, and particularly in time of war, works of art, the patrimony of humanity at large, should be left untouched by national or political passion." PEN Afrikaans hereby joins a growing number of voices appealing to the University of Cape Town to allow public access to any art that has been removed or covered up.