BODY OF EVIDENCE AT (UN)INFECTING THE CITY 2021
Some of the hard-hitting artistic work of the Body of Evidence online campaign that takes a firm stand against gender-based violence and femicide in South Africa, will be showcased in various public spaces across Cape Town as part of the (Un)Infecting the City public arts festival that launches on Saturday (8 May) and runs until the end of June.
Presented by UCT’s Institute for Creative Arts (ICA) and free-to-attend, Infecting the City is the longest-running public arts festival in South Africa, bringing art, music, dance and performances to various public outdoor spaces in the city. It has been renamed (Un)Infecting the City for 2021, to bring it in line with this year’s thematic focus on the psychological and social effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has undoubtedly also resulted in an alarming increase in gender-based violence in the country.
Comprising eight distinct programmes over eight weeks, (Un)Infecting the City offers a wealth of culturally rich opportunities created by 50 different artists, with programme 1 (theme: land, body, spirit) and 2 (theme: locked-in, looking out) featuring, among others, a number of artists who have contributed to the Body of Evidence campaign. They are:
- Amy Wilson and Gabriel Dirkse:
https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/AmyWilson
https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/GabrielDirkse
Programme 1 on 8 & 9 May, 18:30 to 19:30 (walk about), films on loop in shop window, 161 Long Street
- Vathiswa Nodlayiya:
https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/VathiswaNodlayiya
Programme 1 on 8 & 9 May, 18:30 to 19:30 (walk about), film on loop at the Western Province building, corner of Long and Wale streets
- Koleka Putuma:
https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/KolekaPutuma
Programme 1 on 8 & 9 May, 19:30 to 21:00 (settle down), film projection at Church Square, corner of Bureau and Parliament streets
Programme 2 on 11 & 12 May, 19:30 to 21:00 (settle down), film projection at Church Square, corner of Bureau and Parliament streets
- Llewelyn Afrika:
https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/LewellynAfrika
Programme 2 on 11 & 12 May, 18:30 to 19:30 (walk about), film on loop in shop window, 148 Long Street
- Vuyolwethu Nompetsheni:
https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/VuyolwethuNompetsheni
Programme 2 on 11 & 12 May, 18:30 to 19:30 (walk about), film on loop at Western Province building, corner of Long and Wale streets
To find out more about these talented artists, go to www.bodyofevidence.co.za. To follow the campaign’s conversation series, visit https://www.bodyofevidence.co.za/Conversations.
The driving force behind Body of Evidence, is arts and performance specialist, Mandla Mbothwe of Mud & Fire Parables. He is also a senior lecturer at UCT’s Centre for Theatre, Dance and Performance Studies. The campaign was first introduced to the public late last year to address the impact of gender-based violence in South Africa whilst supporting local artists and providing them a platform to express themselves.
Body of Evidence is sponsored by Distell, Africa’s leading producer of alcoholic beverages.
Co-curated by Mbothwe together with award-winning artist, performer and activist, Qondiswa James, it features a series of short, powerful musical, dance, visual, narrative, poetry and conceptual pieces – all designed to galvanise a new way of thinking about our humanity and our responsibility to each other as well as to build a counter movement against gender-based violence embracing all levels of society.Underpinning the initiative is a national 24/7 hotline (0800 428 428) for those subjected to gender-based violence.
(Un)Infecting the City 2021 will follow all health and safety protocols associated with Covid-19. Wearing of masks and social distancing are mandatory. The festival programme is subject to change, so it’s advisable to consult the website, http://infectingthecity.com/2021/, regularly.
Follow Body of Evidence on Facebook (BodyofEvidence) and Instagram (@body_of_evidence_gbv_f).
Join the conversation and use the hashtags:
#BodyofEvidence
#ChooseToChallenge
#GBV-F
#ITC2021
