An exciting collaborative architecture, culture and heritage project is to be hosted by The Old Court House Museum, 77 Samora Machel Street, Durban from 5 August to 30 September 2014. Durban University of Technology Jewellery Design students have created dazzling original works inspired by Durban’s Art Deco architecture and Phansi Museum artefacts.

As part of the DUT Jewellery Design programme the Durban Deco exhibition seeks to showcase student talent to a wider audience. The event presents a contemporary perspective on Durban’s Art Deco Heritage at a time when the city is hosting the International Union of Architects (UIA) World Congress. The exhibition also offers a platform for the sale of student work with some of the funds being contributed to ARROWSA, an arts, culture & heritage for peace non-profit organisation, to enable learners from Bechet High School to attend the international INDRA Congress for youth in 2015.

“In the Jewellery Design programme at the Durban University of Technology, we place great importance on the use of references when designing. We find that students often have a lack of visual references at their disposal, which results in them resorting to Google image thumbnails or vague recollections of images from music videos or movies. To facilitate the design process we therefore promote the use of visual references from the student’s immediate surroundings, as in the Art Deco buildings and from culturally relevant objects, as found in the Phansi Museum,” says Chris de Beer, Head of Department, Fine Art and Jewellery Design, DUT.

The exhibition opening takes place on Tuesday 5 August, 16h30 for 17h00. The evening promises an entertaining line-up with jewellery on sale, singing and dance performances by the ARROWSA Bechet group. Guest speakers will include the head of the Department of Fine Arts and Jewellery, DUT, Chris de Beer and Director of the international arts for peace Indra Congress, David Oddie (MBE).

Exhibition opens: Tuesday 5 August 2014, 4:30pm for 5pm
Exhibition closes: Tuesday 30 September 2014, 4:00pm

The Old Court House Museum
77 Samora Machel Street (formerly Aliwal Street), Durban
Museum Hours: Mon-Sat 8:30 – 4pm, Sundays & Public Holidays: 11am – 4pm
Tel: 031-311 2226/7

RSVP (Exhibition Opening): 031-311 2223
Email: Bongi.Mnikathi@durban.gov.za