The Labyrinth of Renewed Conversation is a public art intervention that intends to offer not only a “public experience of space but rather public debate that becomes the work of art,” something that “can end with its acceptance or rejection” (Hein, 1996: 4) (North, 1990: 860–879). Labyrinth of Renewed Conversation seeks to demonstrate the somewhat ‘knotty’ situation that students have faced in South Africa with regards to the #FeesMustFall movement. Saleem Badat expresses that the #FeesMustFall organization is “perhaps a multiplicity of movements” which emphasizes issues concerning the “‘decolonization of the university’, the social composition of academic staff, institutional culture, the inadequacy of state funding of higher education, the
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Notably the demonstrations and the shutdown of universities across South Africa has created a division between privileged students and unprivileged students as many can not see eye to eye; on the one hand, the shutdown of universities has been a time of transformation and adamancy for free higher education and alternatively there are some students that wish to reopen the campuses to they can complete the academic year. This art intervention, does not attempt to fix these disparities, rather it wishes to communicate that while many students feel restricted, whether it is due to the fee increases, the shutdown of universities, or other salient issues of race, class and gender boundaries, there is still a way for students to connect and unite again. That does not mean everyone will coincide with particular ideas, however, the project expects to discuss how the organisation of space and public art can create the opportunity for “political conversation across existing boundaries” (Kohn, 2004: 8). Labyrinth of Renewed Conversations has the tendency to be disruptive and creative, though more importantly, it allows “a site of thoughtful opposition and a place for reflective inquiry and meaningful engagement” (Darts, 2004: 318). The intervention thus gives a chance for active participation that will essentially “challenge [citizens] [to] transform themselves, their communities, and the world(s) in which they live” (Darts, 2004: 325). There are many pertinent issues regarding free education and the decolonization of universities that needs to be addressed, however, by installing the Labyrinth of Renewed Conversation it will hopefully unite voices, students, and action in breaking down these dividers. By assembling red straps through and around chairs, desks, doors,
Notably the demonstrations and the shutdown of universities across South Africa has created a division between privileged students and unprivileged students as many can not see eye to eye; on the one hand, the shutdown of universities has been a time of transformation and adamancy for free higher education and alternatively there are some students that wish to reopen the campuses to they can complete the academic year. This art intervention, does not attempt to fix these disparities, rather it wishes to communicate that while many students feel restricted, whether it is due to the fee increases, the shutdown of universities, or other salient issues of race, class and gender boundaries, there is still a way for students to connect and unite again. That does not mean everyone will coincide with particular ideas, however, the project expects to discuss how the organisation of space and public art can create the opportunity for “political conversation across existing boundaries” (Kohn, 2004: 8). Labyrinth of Renewed Conversations has the tendency to be disruptive and creative, though more importantly, it allows “a site of thoughtful opposition and a place for reflective inquiry and meaningful engagement” (Darts, 2004: 318). The intervention thus gives a chance for active participation that will essentially “challenge [citizens] [to] transform themselves, their communities, and the world(s) in which they live” (Darts, 2004: 325). There are many pertinent issues regarding free education and the decolonization of universities that needs to be addressed, however, by installing the Labyrinth of Renewed Conversation it will hopefully unite voices, students, and action in breaking down these dividers. By assembling red straps through and around chairs, desks, doors,