Democracy X
by Kresta Tyler Johnson
The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, historically aligned with the repressive regimes of apartheid and colonialism, is hosting a major exhibition that has been created to coincide with the celebrations of a decade of democracy. Democracy X is an investigative endeavour to discover the roots of contemporary South African culture, how it is manifested today and the transformations that occurred even while a majority of the people were brutally oppressed.
Under the guidance of Iziko Museums of Cape Town, Democracy X is an attempt to "review and re-examine South African history... in an exhibition in which we aim to encourage renewal and growth for the future through an understanding (of) the past".
Democracy X will explore aspects of this transformation through visual art, artefacts, video and audio presentations. The exhibition will depict the various cultures that exist within South Africa and will examine the history of the country, from the ancestral tribal groups that were displaced by the colonists, to the forced removals and proliferation of townships under apartheid. The various forms of resistance that arose against political oppression during apartheid, culminating in democracy are also explored. Finally, the exhibition concludes with monumental moments from the past decade including, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the creation of the Constitution and a look at the youth of today and the future that lies ahead.
This is an incredibly ambitious undertaking and we will have to see if the exhibition is met with approval. An education programme has been created to facilitate the necessary dialogues and further education that will be needed to comprehend the tumultuous past of South Africa and discover that the country has reconciled, and strives on a daily basis to improve itself and create anew.
'Democracy X' will run from the April 21 to September 31.
