SA Bill of Rights - DUT Celebrates

The Acting Vice Chancellor, Professor Gawe of the Durban University of Technology(DUT) is celebrating the SA Bill of Rights with the launch ceremony for the ‘Images for Human Rights’ Print Portfolio on the 19 March 2007 at 5pm for 5:30pm.

The venue is the Foyer Area of the D Block, 8th floor, M L Sultan Campus. Guest-speaker Adv Anil Naidoo, chair Art for Humanity.

The South African Bill of Rights enshrines the rights of all South Africans and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom was declared on the 8th of May 1996.

In celebrating the birth of our Bill of Rights the Images of Human Rights Portfolio, consists of 29 fine art prints, created by 28 artists representing the nine provinces of South Africa.

The artists reflect the diversity of South Africa, both culturally and by training. Some have a strong academic and cosmopolitan background, while others are self-taught with a rural upbringing. The collection was hand printed by master printmaker Jan Jordaan at the Dept. of Fine Art, DUT, signed and titled by the participating artists.

Each image in the collection depicts a Clause of South Africa's Bill of Rights, by virtue of which our country has joined the community of nations which respects and upholds human rights.

The Images of Human Rights portfolio has traveled extensively as part of national and international exhibitions. It forms part of many art collections and it is also on display at the South African Constitutional Court.

Among the contributing artists is the internationally acclaimed Azaria Mbatha, the first South African artist to have works included in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Other artists are well known printmakers Philippa Hobbs from Johannesburg, Vedant Nanackchand, originally from Durban and Ndabenhle William Zulu from Vryheid, KZN. An open national competition won by Norman Kaplan of Port Elizabeth, produced the stunning image for the frontispiece of the portfolio. The end-piece is the creation Jan Jordaan.

The portfolio was launched at the Durban Art Gallery by Judge Albie Sachs of the Constitutional Court on International Human Rights day 10th December 1996.