Arts Faculty probes “What’s in a Name”
- Gerrit Bester
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
by Gerrit Bester
The Faculty of Arts and Design at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is keeping the naming-and-renaming dialogue at the university alive. The most recent discussion was held on Monday, 20 October, focusing on the planned renaming of the Painting Studio (Building 10) on the Arts Campus.
The University embarked on a campaign to rename strategic facilities across its campuses several years ago, guided by the Policy on Naming and Renaming Facilities (2015, p. 1).
The aim is to recognise and celebrate the contributions of eminent individuals and the advancement of knowledge by African intellectuals, scholars and artists.
Thus far, the Faculty of Arts and Design has renamed two venues on the Arts Campus as the Gerard Sekoto Building and the Winston Mankunku Ngozi Building.
The Faculty plans to rename the Printmaking Studio (currently Building 11) to Botaki, a Setswana term for creativity or art, and, as mentioned previously, rename the Painting Studio to the Gladys Mgudlandlu Building.
Pfunzo Sidogi, Assistant Dean: Postgraduate Studies, Research and Innovation at the Faculty, said it is profound that this name was proposed by former Fine and Studio Arts lecturer and acclaimed artist Jan van der Merwe, a white Afrikaner male.
However, given that Mgudlandlu has multiple names (Gladys and Nomfanekiso), the question arises as to why the Faculty does not foreground the African name when renaming the building.
Adding their expertise to the dialogue were Dr Nontobeko Ntombela, Researcher and Curator at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Prof Tebogo Rakgogo, Head of TUT’s Department of Applied Languages.
Dr Ntombela gave a brief historical account of Mgudlandlu’s place in South Africa’s art landscape, noting that she is recognised as a pioneering Black woman artist, with her first solo exhibition in 1961 at the Liberal Party boardroom in Cape Town.
In the context of this renaming and the question of which name to use, Dr Ntombela said it is important to consider how the artist identified herself, as well as the location of where the decolonial project lies.
“Is the radical act in privileging the African names of historical figures like Gladys Mgudlandlu or in the gesture of acknowledging her immense contribution to the art world through the renaming of the building?” she asked, among other compelling reflections.
Prof Rakgogo said it is important to have synergy between the use of semiotics in renaming and broader transformation. He also highlighted the importance of capacitating people with information before they make submissions to the Naming and Renaming Committee.
The panellists agreed on keeping both of Mgudlandlu’s names when the building is renamed but cautioned about gender sensitivity in such decisions.
PHOTOS: Khethukuthula Mahamba