Fracking as seen through artists’ eyes

Published Aug 31, 2015

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Cape Town - Artists have tackled the controversial issue of fracking across a range of disciplines in an exhibition looking at the practice and exploring its potential effect on communities and the environment.

Karoo Disclosure, a collaborative art installation, opened at the Iziko South African Museum on Saturday and runs until November 15.

Despite serious opposition to hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, for shale gas in the Karoo, President Jacob Zuma has said it could be a “game-changer” for the economy.

Deborah Weber, who initiated the project more than a year ago and got all the artists together, said fracking was usually characterised by a polarisation of views, so the intention of the exhibition was to bring out some of the nuances.

Weber and some of the artists travelled through the Karoo and spoke to a variety of residents about their views.

They found a big divide between those pushing for jobs which are desperately needed to improve quality of life and those who are intent on protecting the Karoo.

“Farmers were probably the most anti-fracking and were quite organised in how they plan to address it.”

She said the agricultural economy was extremely reliant on ground water, as was eco-tourism.

Weber said the lack of transparency by government on fracking was concerning, especially when one looked at the country’s mining legacy.

The exhibition looks at issues such as cultural history, natural capital and ownership of land.

Eugene Bergh, who curates Invertebrate Palaeontology and Geology at the Iziko South African Museum, said they had included some of their specimens from the Karoo such as archeological artefacts, stone age tools and fossils, some of which dated back 260 million years.

Weber said the Karoo Disclosure Collective was established last year.

It brings together performers, videographers, composers, musicians, jewellery designers and visual artists who work together collaboratively on specific projects.

The collaborating artists include Weber, Damien Schumann, Elgin Rust, Gina Waldman, Margaret Stone, Maxim Starcke, Lisa Bauer, Michelle Liao, Tom Glenn, Peet van Heerden, Hendrik Dudumashe and Paula Kingwill.

The exhibition includes a film, Karoo Disclosure, which was selected for the Karoo Indy Film Festival and shown at That Art Fair.

Weber said they received funding from the National Arts Council to produce the film as well as funding from the Arts and Culture Trust to put on the exhibition.

Helen Bamford, Cape Argus

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