Student’s exhibition clouded by ‘racism’

Bredasdorp. 141218. Lee-Ann January in front of her exhibition about violence against woman and children in Bredasdorp, running for nearly a week already. Its hosted at Bredasdorp library. Reporter Nicolette. Pic COURTNEY AFRICA

Bredasdorp. 141218. Lee-Ann January in front of her exhibition about violence against woman and children in Bredasdorp, running for nearly a week already. Its hosted at Bredasdorp library. Reporter Nicolette. Pic COURTNEY AFRICA

Published Dec 19, 2014

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A former UCT arts student sweeps streets in Bredasdorp, while someone else takes care of her artworks dedicated to Anene Booysen – the teenager raped and murdered there in February last year.

Lee-Ann January, who said she decided to use art as a tool to heal the Bredasdorp community and create awareness about abuse, said she had studied art at UCT’s Michaelis School of Fine Art, but left before her final examination because of racism she experienced from some students and lecturers.

“In our class of 60 students, only eight of us were non-white. I could not handle the racist comments from the students and some of the lecturers, so I just left before I could complete my degree,” she said.

South African Students’ Congress (Sasco) Provincial Chairman Luzuko Bashman said the organisation had previously received complaints of racism and condemned it.

He said universities should work towards representing the democratic society.

“Students should bring forward their complaints and stories of racism to Sasco,” he encouraged.

UCT confirmed that January was a student in the Michaelis School of Fine Art from 2009 to 2012, in the BA Fine Arts programme, and had left the programme without completing her degree.

UCT spokeswoman Pat Lucas said they were aware of various allegations January had levelled against the university.

“We reject the substance of her allegations and urge caution in accepting her version. We are not at liberty to discuss the details of the case, as various ethical considerations are at play relating to Ms January. We also caution the Cape Times against taking one person’s allegations as fact and making assumptions about the university based on that person’s untested version,” Lucas said.

January said her experience at UCT had not hindered her ability to create an anti-violence message in her community. She had also experienced the pain of sexual abuse when a 13-year-old family member was raped by a relative a few years ago.

The violent murder and rape of Booysen inspired her to highlight the plight of women through art, she said.

Her mother, Joan, keeps watch of her work titled DosierX in the local library while January works her shift until 4.30pm.

“Lee-Anne was always a creative child growing up and I am proud of what she did with her artwork,” Joan said

Cape Times

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