Savitri on art

It’s hard sometimes to enjoy things when you are becoming more aware of the inequalities in the world. Sometimes, I wonder to myself, why should I be having fun when so many people suffer? Or, how can I have fun when so many people suffer?

When I went to the Design Expo with Elise I had a similar dilemma. The first thing we came across was a station where some people were discussing the focus of the expo. They explained that its main premise was to showcase creative minds and bring together people who could add insight to developmental design. There were four main areas of focus, though I can only remember the ones that Elise and I picked out. I picked out “bridging the divide” because I was interested in infrastructure, especially in townships, and how the space of Cape Town might be used to better support disadvantaged peoples. Though we did not get to learn much about what was being planned for the city or how specific human rights violations were being addressed it was still interesting to see all the different stalls of art and products.

 

I admit, however, that as much as I love art I feel guilty in this pleasure when every day I am learning about horrors and abuse and conditions that humans should not be subjected to. When I am in environments like the one inside the Design Expo – where the majority of patrons are white and middle or upper class – I feel strange that I am participating in something so obviously privileged. Of course, I am well aware that there are many things I enjoy every day that others do not and it is not limited to this one situation. But at least when I am in my clean bed and close to my functioning and hygienic toilet, things that I see as necessities, I start to forget that not everyone has access to basic amenities like these.

When Elise and I went walking around Woodstock we found little pockets of artistic passion similar to the kinds displayed at the expo. Most products were too expensive and unnecessary, just cool trinkets to look at and walk by. There were some unique gardens – one with metal sculptures and one with teacups in a waterfall – but I think I can speak for both of us that our favorite moment was noticing the following written on the side of a building: “Removing the greyness from the soul of the city is the job of musicians, artists and poets.”

This was an important reminder to us that art and music is so much more than just pleasure. It is an outlet of expression, a platform for unheard voices to belt their song as loud as they can. It can be a forum for discussion or outrage or righteousness or appreciation. It can be a form of healing and moving on, but never forgetting. It can be an anonymous message meant to inspire or bring us back down to earth. Or it can be a vehicle for education and activism.

Andrea has been communicating with Design for Development, a graphic design organization, in order to promote public health and hygiene for her activist’s project. I went with her to meet these developers in their studio in Green Point and was so awesome to listen to them brainstorm and be a part of their discussion. It felt invigorating and refreshing to come up with ideas with these women and bounce off of each other. Even more so, their enthusiasm to help Andrea with her project gave me motivation in my own involvements and activism. To see their balance of creativity and work – by the way, they have created several infographics for MSF – was awesome for me because it is this very balance that I struggle with. One thing’s for sure, the above quote will always be one of my favorite moments in Cape Town