Convivial Conversations

the start position

This project helped me find a way to realize a way to position myself, within the sturctures of the new South Africa.

It is this: We all need a voice, we all need to be heard no matter what our colour or our histories. At the end of the day prejudice is still prejudice no matter who or what colour it is directed at. The past can inform our current thinking but it shouldn’t overshadow it, we need to work collectively while making space for the individual as that I believe would make us the ‘Rainbow Nation’.

# MA my project musings

Posted 10 months ago

On being white

‘Does being white mean I was privileged and thus automatically pro-apartheid’

Does that mean as a white person from South Africa, I must never forget what other white people did?

Does it mean that I must be ashamed that my parents worked hard to become the professionals in their fields and gave me a good life?

Because others didn’t have the life I’ve had?

Does it mean that everything I work for must be seen as ‘well your privileged of course you could achieve that’… Without taking into account that I may of had to work hard to achieve as I have…

Does it mean that I will always be perceived as the ‘bad’ guy no matter what?

Does it mean that the white voice is not allowed in the new South Africa?

# my project MA South Africa South African abroad

Posted 10 months ago 2 notes View comments
The residue that is not the residue…. the show ‘interrupt’ was a complete success, all the work on display was fantastic (more images of the others work to follow). Now for my viva, fingers crossed!! These pieces are for my thought process (sketchbook) and although you cannot hear there is an audio loop of the events that took place coming out of the floating plinth. The plinth has been painted to resemble the Ndebele houses of South Africa, while the gold doilies are there to represent Afrikaaner ‘doeks’. I was harking back to how during apartheid many were prosperous off the backs of the black workers.  As those were the starting points that lead me towards, finding ways to converse about our country’s volatile history. As well as finding ways to move forward into the new South Africa.  The statement for the work is: Keep having conversations / gespreken / izingxoxo (I have hopefully found the correct translations for the Afrikaans and Zulu versions of the word conversations) The idea being that everyone’s voice needs to be present for us to become a community.The residue that is not the residue…. the show ‘interrupt’ was a complete success, all the work on display was fantastic (more images of the others work to follow). Now for my viva, fingers crossed!! These pieces are for my thought process (sketchbook) and although you cannot hear there is an audio loop of the events that took place coming out of the floating plinth. The plinth has been painted to resemble the Ndebele houses of South Africa, while the gold doilies are there to represent Afrikaaner ‘doeks’. I was harking back to how during apartheid many were prosperous off the backs of the black workers.  As those were the starting points that lead me towards, finding ways to converse about our country’s volatile history. As well as finding ways to move forward into the new South Africa.  The statement for the work is: Keep having conversations / gespreken / izingxoxo (I have hopefully found the correct translations for the Afrikaans and Zulu versions of the word conversations) The idea being that everyone’s voice needs to be present for us to become a community.

The residue that is not the residue…. the show ‘interrupt’ was a complete success, all the work on display was fantastic (more images of the others work to follow). Now for my viva, fingers crossed!!

These pieces are for my thought process (sketchbook) and although you cannot hear there is an audio loop of the events that took place coming out of the floating plinth. The plinth has been painted to resemble the Ndebele houses of South Africa, while the gold doilies are there to represent Afrikaaner ‘doeks’. I was harking back to how during apartheid many were prosperous off the backs of the black workers. 

As those were the starting points that lead me towards, finding ways to converse about our country’s volatile history. As well as finding ways to move forward into the new South Africa. 

The statement for the work is:

Keep having conversations / gespreken / izingxoxo

(I have hopefully found the correct translations for the Afrikaans and Zulu versions of the word conversations) The idea being that everyone’s voice needs to be present for us to become a community.

# MA my project South African Artist South African abroad

Posted 10 months ago

Deadlines focus the mind

Trying to distill the essence of this project into a 1000 words for my viva, is proving difficult. How can I omit things, when every voice and narrative I have spoken with is important?
Luckily I get 20 minutes to discuss the project with more depth, which makes the writing easier.

# my project MA

Posted 10 months ago
Well now how time flies when deadlines approach! I’ve been a busy bee and I must say I’m getting the hang of my version of the ‘Durban curry’ (I’ll post recipe soon!).  I’m getting ahead of myself now, so let’s back track for a moment to this past Saturday. I had asked a friend if I could hold one of my ‘Convivial Conversation’ events in her house, as she lives in a shared house with her brother and other South Africans. So I prepped all the food, which ended up being my ‘Durban curry’ and I made peppermint crisp surprise crackers for dessert (that recipe to follow too! - I came up with it from 2 different recipes). I hopped in a cab and set off for Southfields, a place in London, along with Earlsfield and Wimbledon that is full to the brim with South Africans. Heck they even sell Savanna cider in the Sainsbury’s there (way to know your market, I’d say). Another story for another time is that of the driver, Johannes from Eritrea, a very interesting discussion was had! Back to this story, so the food was great and more people arrived, conversations flowed. Topics ranged from nostalgic memories of home via the food, differences to UK, education….. to round it off we watched the rugby South Africa vs England held in my hometown of Durban’s stadium - the Moses Mabida. A wonderful event, now I just need to get down to listening, reflecting and editing the recordings for the show - eish!! View Larger

Well now how time flies when deadlines approach! I’ve been a busy bee and I must say I’m getting the hang of my version of the ‘Durban curry’ (I’ll post recipe soon!). 

I’m getting ahead of myself now, so let’s back track for a moment to this past Saturday. I had asked a friend if I could hold one of my ‘Convivial Conversation’ events in her house, as she lives in a shared house with her brother and other South Africans. So I prepped all the food, which ended up being my ‘Durban curry’ and I made peppermint crisp surprise crackers for dessert (that recipe to follow too! - I came up with it from 2 different recipes).

I hopped in a cab and set off for Southfields, a place in London, along with Earlsfield and Wimbledon that is full to the brim with South Africans. Heck they even sell Savanna cider in the Sainsbury’s there (way to know your market, I’d say). Another story for another time is that of the driver, Johannes from Eritrea, a very interesting discussion was had!

Back to this story, so the food was great and more people arrived, conversations flowed. Topics ranged from nostalgic memories of home via the food, differences to UK, education….. to round it off we watched the rugby South Africa vs England held in my hometown of Durban’s stadium - the Moses Mabida.

A wonderful event, now I just need to get down to listening, reflecting and editing the recordings for the show - eish!!

# SA abroad South Africa food project MA

Posted 11 months ago

….

Recently I have started to wonder about helping others, why do I volunteer my services to help others? Is it altruistic, do I feel that I am able to contribute in meaningful way that my skill is up to the task? or is it because I seek recognition? Do I secretly yearn for others to see me in a certain way….

On the other hand my perception of the task of helping and my role in it, may differ vastly from those I am helping. So whose expectation is correct? How do we keep an open dialogue that can transcend hurt feelings and anxieties caused by comments and expectations?

# musings MA project

Posted 11 months ago
Well here we are a new week and all ready in the middle of it! Things are moving apace on the project front. Here are some images from the first ‘Convivial Conversations’ event that I held in my home, with my collaborators (these happened to be a friend from South Africa and her girlfriend from Germany). I realised that as I had invited them and given them some information on the project, they were primed to ask more questions, which was fantastic! This helped me as I had been wondering how to start ‘asking questions’ but in this way, it was more natural and organic.  For the food I went out and sourced a local South African shop, the one I used was Savanna (London Bridge), they had excellent stock of South African foods, drinks and ingredients. I went a little nuts and bought: niknaks, biltong, cream soda, savanna dry cider, Durban curry powders and koeksisters! I served the nik naks and biltong when my guests arrived and then ladled the curry into the waiting bunnies for the main part of our meal, rounding off with a koeksister each!! These are truly sweet that more than one at a time is difficult!). The food I chose represented tastes and associated memories I have of South Africa, ones that my friend shared as she had brought along some nik naks and more cider! This made her girlfriend pose an interesting idea of having a dinner where everyone bring some snack or drink that reminded them of South Africa and see how many of the same item were brought….. hmmmmm… the next step? The conversation flowed around why we were there, what I was doing and why etc… I recorded these conversations and will be reflecting on them soon! Plus I hope to create an audio track so that during my ‘event/show’ people will ‘interrupt’ the conversations I’ve had by listening in (reflecting the theme of the event/show - I hope).Well here we are a new week and all ready in the middle of it! Things are moving apace on the project front. Here are some images from the first ‘Convivial Conversations’ event that I held in my home, with my collaborators (these happened to be a friend from South Africa and her girlfriend from Germany). I realised that as I had invited them and given them some information on the project, they were primed to ask more questions, which was fantastic! This helped me as I had been wondering how to start ‘asking questions’ but in this way, it was more natural and organic.  For the food I went out and sourced a local South African shop, the one I used was Savanna (London Bridge), they had excellent stock of South African foods, drinks and ingredients. I went a little nuts and bought: niknaks, biltong, cream soda, savanna dry cider, Durban curry powders and koeksisters! I served the nik naks and biltong when my guests arrived and then ladled the curry into the waiting bunnies for the main part of our meal, rounding off with a koeksister each!! These are truly sweet that more than one at a time is difficult!). The food I chose represented tastes and associated memories I have of South Africa, ones that my friend shared as she had brought along some nik naks and more cider! This made her girlfriend pose an interesting idea of having a dinner where everyone bring some snack or drink that reminded them of South Africa and see how many of the same item were brought….. hmmmmm… the next step? The conversation flowed around why we were there, what I was doing and why etc… I recorded these conversations and will be reflecting on them soon! Plus I hope to create an audio track so that during my ‘event/show’ people will ‘interrupt’ the conversations I’ve had by listening in (reflecting the theme of the event/show - I hope).Well here we are a new week and all ready in the middle of it! Things are moving apace on the project front. Here are some images from the first ‘Convivial Conversations’ event that I held in my home, with my collaborators (these happened to be a friend from South Africa and her girlfriend from Germany). I realised that as I had invited them and given them some information on the project, they were primed to ask more questions, which was fantastic! This helped me as I had been wondering how to start ‘asking questions’ but in this way, it was more natural and organic.  For the food I went out and sourced a local South African shop, the one I used was Savanna (London Bridge), they had excellent stock of South African foods, drinks and ingredients. I went a little nuts and bought: niknaks, biltong, cream soda, savanna dry cider, Durban curry powders and koeksisters! I served the nik naks and biltong when my guests arrived and then ladled the curry into the waiting bunnies for the main part of our meal, rounding off with a koeksister each!! These are truly sweet that more than one at a time is difficult!). The food I chose represented tastes and associated memories I have of South Africa, ones that my friend shared as she had brought along some nik naks and more cider! This made her girlfriend pose an interesting idea of having a dinner where everyone bring some snack or drink that reminded them of South Africa and see how many of the same item were brought….. hmmmmm… the next step? The conversation flowed around why we were there, what I was doing and why etc… I recorded these conversations and will be reflecting on them soon! Plus I hope to create an audio track so that during my ‘event/show’ people will ‘interrupt’ the conversations I’ve had by listening in (reflecting the theme of the event/show - I hope).Well here we are a new week and all ready in the middle of it! Things are moving apace on the project front. Here are some images from the first ‘Convivial Conversations’ event that I held in my home, with my collaborators (these happened to be a friend from South Africa and her girlfriend from Germany). I realised that as I had invited them and given them some information on the project, they were primed to ask more questions, which was fantastic! This helped me as I had been wondering how to start ‘asking questions’ but in this way, it was more natural and organic.  For the food I went out and sourced a local South African shop, the one I used was Savanna (London Bridge), they had excellent stock of South African foods, drinks and ingredients. I went a little nuts and bought: niknaks, biltong, cream soda, savanna dry cider, Durban curry powders and koeksisters! I served the nik naks and biltong when my guests arrived and then ladled the curry into the waiting bunnies for the main part of our meal, rounding off with a koeksister each!! These are truly sweet that more than one at a time is difficult!). The food I chose represented tastes and associated memories I have of South Africa, ones that my friend shared as she had brought along some nik naks and more cider! This made her girlfriend pose an interesting idea of having a dinner where everyone bring some snack or drink that reminded them of South Africa and see how many of the same item were brought….. hmmmmm… the next step? The conversation flowed around why we were there, what I was doing and why etc… I recorded these conversations and will be reflecting on them soon! Plus I hope to create an audio track so that during my ‘event/show’ people will ‘interrupt’ the conversations I’ve had by listening in (reflecting the theme of the event/show - I hope).Well here we are a new week and all ready in the middle of it! Things are moving apace on the project front. Here are some images from the first ‘Convivial Conversations’ event that I held in my home, with my collaborators (these happened to be a friend from South Africa and her girlfriend from Germany). I realised that as I had invited them and given them some information on the project, they were primed to ask more questions, which was fantastic! This helped me as I had been wondering how to start ‘asking questions’ but in this way, it was more natural and organic.  For the food I went out and sourced a local South African shop, the one I used was Savanna (London Bridge), they had excellent stock of South African foods, drinks and ingredients. I went a little nuts and bought: niknaks, biltong, cream soda, savanna dry cider, Durban curry powders and koeksisters! I served the nik naks and biltong when my guests arrived and then ladled the curry into the waiting bunnies for the main part of our meal, rounding off with a koeksister each!! These are truly sweet that more than one at a time is difficult!). The food I chose represented tastes and associated memories I have of South Africa, ones that my friend shared as she had brought along some nik naks and more cider! This made her girlfriend pose an interesting idea of having a dinner where everyone bring some snack or drink that reminded them of South Africa and see how many of the same item were brought….. hmmmmm… the next step? The conversation flowed around why we were there, what I was doing and why etc… I recorded these conversations and will be reflecting on them soon! Plus I hope to create an audio track so that during my ‘event/show’ people will ‘interrupt’ the conversations I’ve had by listening in (reflecting the theme of the event/show - I hope).

Well here we are a new week and all ready in the middle of it! Things are moving apace on the project front. Here are some images from the first ‘Convivial Conversations’ event that I held in my home, with my collaborators (these happened to be a friend from South Africa and her girlfriend from Germany).

I realised that as I had invited them and given them some information on the project, they were primed to ask more questions, which was fantastic! This helped me as I had been wondering how to start ‘asking questions’ but in this way, it was more natural and organic. 

For the food I went out and sourced a local South African shop, the one I used was Savanna (London Bridge), they had excellent stock of South African foods, drinks and ingredients. I went a little nuts and bought:

niknaks, biltong, cream soda, savanna dry cider, Durban curry powders and koeksisters!

I served the nik naks and biltong when my guests arrived and then ladled the curry into the waiting bunnies for the main part of our meal, rounding off with a koeksister each!! These are truly sweet that more than one at a time is difficult!).

The food I chose represented tastes and associated memories I have of South Africa, ones that my friend shared as she had brought along some nik naks and more cider! This made her girlfriend pose an interesting idea of having a dinner where everyone bring some snack or drink that reminded them of South Africa and see how many of the same item were brought….. hmmmmm… the next step?

The conversation flowed around why we were there, what I was doing and why etc… I recorded these conversations and will be reflecting on them soon! Plus I hope to create an audio track so that during my ‘event/show’ people will ‘interrupt’ the conversations I’ve had by listening in (reflecting the theme of the event/show - I hope).

# MA CPCs South Africa food my art project

Posted 11 months ago

Waiting for Chase: My top 3 South African foods! →

 Now this is so random!! My first event, for the project, was last night and the foods I chose were these three!! (I’ll be posting images and recipes soon!).

Which verifies a really good point one of my guests had, which was “you should ask people (South Africans) to bring one food item that reminds them of home and see how many people bring similar things” . This was due to the fact that my friend and I had both bought the same brand of cider and crisps (chips) - go figure!

caseyandbabychase:

#1: Koeksisters - A deep-fried, syrup-coated donut in a braid. They are amazing. Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and dripping in syrup. Sweet, sticky heaven :)

#2: Biltong - a dried, cured meat of either beef, game or ostrich, similar to beef jerky but with a completely different…

# food South Africa project MA

Reblogged 11 months ago from chaseskickassmama 2 notes View comments

a little more info on the Bobotie….

So folks it would seem that most say it originated from Indonesia via the Dutch East India company (see wikipedia sadly only place I could find…..) However on looking at cooking sites I found this, where the chef talks about how it came from the Dutch but was  a much simpler dish and due to contact and availability with spices and cooking techniques from the East it was greatly improved…

What I take from this is that it is a dish that combines cultures, which in turn embodies how I see South Africa trying to be. We need to accept and realise our differences but know that together we create a richness that is unique to our country.

This follows with my project, as I want to marry my perceptions of South Africa with those of others, but to also reflect on how working together and hearing the individual within the collective creates a democratic collective community. This allows for openness between all participants, enabling learning and teaching to work together in tandem.

# food south africa MA

Posted 11 months ago
So for my project I am going to hold ‘events’ which are essentially a gathering of people around food that is found and known of as South African. Started by looking into menus and what to make, this was one of the ideas, but as I will be doing buffet style food I rethought it….  But I’m posting this as it is a tasty South African dish, which then made me realise that I didn’t know where it came from, I’d always supposed it was a Dutch/Afrikaaner dish, as my Granny made it for my Oupa (she was English he was an Afrikaaner…). So I did some research, which I’ll post next…. qudsiya: Bobotie, a Cape Malay dish made with mince and an egg-based topping. Recipe here. View Larger

So for my project I am going to hold ‘events’ which are essentially a gathering of people around food that is found and known of as South African. Started by looking into menus and what to make, this was one of the ideas, but as I will be doing buffet style food I rethought it…. 

But I’m posting this as it is a tasty South African dish, which then made me realise that I didn’t know where it came from, I’d always supposed it was a Dutch/Afrikaaner dish, as my Granny made it for my Oupa (she was English he was an Afrikaaner…). So I did some research, which I’ll post next….

qudsiya:

Bobotie, a Cape Malay dish made with mince and an egg-based topping. Recipe here.

# South Africa food MA project

Reblogged 11 months ago from qudsiya 8 notes View comments