The exhibition Never-ending secrets and untold stories: The embodiment of women in war at the Oliewenhuis Art Museum in Bloemfontein has been an attraction for both local and international art lovers. It will close on Sunday (26/02), having opened on 25 November last year.
It has attracted international visitors from France, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, Chicago in the United States, and Maseru, the capital of Lesotho. South African visitors were from Johannesburg, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Cape Town, Durban, Kathu in the Northern Cape, and Polokwane in Limpopo while the Free State include Welkom, Clarens, Parys, Ficksburg as well as Bloemfontein.
Yolanda de Kock, education officer at the museum, said as of opening on 26 November last year till Tuesday (21/02), 125 visitors had registered to view the exhibition.
“Not all our visitors write in the visitors’ book, though. But I think this is a wonderful indication that our museum is indeed an attraction centre for art lovers, the public in general, and people from different cultures and ages.
“We are extremely committed to educate all through our exhibitions and especially this one. It is fantastic to witness how our hard work, our wonderful team at the art museum has a shared vision to create an inclusive, vibrant museum experience for all people of South Africa and even abroad,” said De Kock.
De Kock believes interest from international and local visitors testify the positive impact of the exhibition in education.
“The public receive this exhibition as thought provoking, educational, moving, profound. Different emotions were triggered. From sadness to the frightening realities of the South African war. The purpose of this exhibition is to serve as a reminder and to create a platform to explore new and unanswered questions based on the injustices of the past and present – with the focus on women and children along with the biases that have and still take place under the subjects of race and sexuality and suppression,” said De Kock.
This exhibition was curated in collaboration with the War Museum of the Boer Republics. De Kock said the significance was that it also responds to and coincides with the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign from 25 November to 10 December. Themes of the trauma, suffering, strength and survival of women during the South African War (also referred to as the Anglo-Boer War) from 1899 to 1902 are explored. “The exhibition also engages with the current war women are facing due to the extent of gender-based violence,” said De Kock.
