Second year Fine Art and Jewellery Design students at the Durban University of Technology put their best foot forward in their first ever exhibition which features stunning and thought provoking works of art.

Titled First Hand: Paper and Metal, this exciting exhibition is currently running at the DUT Art Gallery where the works of 11 Jewellery Design students and 15 Fine Art students are on show.

Jewellery Design students were tasked with the design of a ring based on a flower indigenous to the United Kingdom or South Africa while Fine Art students needed to work with the theme Figure and Space.

The rings – created from bronze and sterling silver – were designed by hand before being transferred onto the Rhino computer modeling programme. The flower was manufactured by hand.

Silindile Mbelu, Jewellery Design student based her design on the Blushing Bride which is native to the Cape. Mbelu said she was so excited about the project that she even dreamt about the design of her ring’s shank (part of the ring that circles the finger).

“I woke up in the middle of the night and I drew it (the shank) exactly as I had dreamt it. I didn’t want wait until the morning in case I forgot,” she quipped. She said the project taught the group much more than just design. “We also learned about pricing our pieces. It was an exciting experience,” said Mbelu.

Bongani Khanyile’s work challenged the contradiction that occurs in one natural space caused by different world-views as well as belief and cultural systems. The Fine Art student’s work explores shows two people climbing up a rope; which represents the world views and personal beliefs.

Nhlakanipho Ndimande, another Fine Art Student challenged the issue of materialism. He said people are so materialistic that they end up forgetting who they are. “The focus (of my work) is on clothes which are essential to our bodies. However, I see a total misunderstanding in today’s society. We tend to judge each other’s inner value by the clothes they wear and the result is ignorance,” said Khanyile, who added that the feedback he received from the audience was both encouraging and positive.

Buhle Mbeje, Jewellery Design student based his design on Botswana’s Prolifera flower because he loved its detail. “The task was challenging and exciting, it enabled me to learn new skills. We were given a week to do it and sounded impossible at first but I later saw that it’s not. My first exhibition was amazing,” said Mbeje.

The exhibition ends on Monday (18 June 2012).

–Sinegugu Ndlovu
Caption: DUT Second Year Jewellery Design Student Silindile Mbelu shows off her stunning ring inspired by the flower known as the Blushing Bride.