The Faculty of Arts and Design at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) will be hosting the Eighth Annual Arts and Design Digital Festival (Digifest 8), which starts online today, 19 0ctober 2021 to Thursday, 21 October 2021. This year’s event will feature 48 virtual exhibitions by emerging and established artists.
For the first day, (today) 19th October 2021, work produced by DUT students and staff as well as other artists from South Africa, America, the United Kingdom, the Mediterranean and Asia will be showcased.
“The students and staff from departments within our Faculty have produced absolutely amazing work for Digifest 8 and you can find them in collections like ‘Utopia/Dystopia.’ Other departments, like Drama, are exhibiting their one-of-a-kind productions. Some of Faculty’s students have also submitted their individual work for exhibition, which can be found in any of the fashion exhibitions, like ‘Kuhle kwembali echuma emhlabeni wezibi.’ We have also had students from other Faculties submit their innovative creations for Digifest 8, like ‘WALKMANN.’ We are truly proud of the quality of work that has come from within our university,” said Jodie Du Plessis, Digifest Manager.
She shared that they are extremely lucky with the participation of other institutions and individual artists from across South Africa, referring to exhibitions like ‘Images in the Corona rear-view mirror’ and ‘The Roots.’
This year’s festival is themed ‘UNMASKED’ and the exhibitions were selected according to their relevance with the theme, which reflects the notion of ‘unleashing.’
There were two categories of submissions for Digifest 8. Category 1 (Reflections) included submissions of creative works developed during the initial COVID-19 spread. Category 2 (Future imaginings) included submission of creative work that looks beyond the pandemic. In addition to creativity, the use of technology, evidence of innovation, and the potential for entrepreneurship were also important selection factors.
Furthermore, Du Plessis highlighted that they selected submissions that fitted into one or both categories of ‘UNMASKED’ and incorporated a fine blend of creativity, technology, innovation, and/or entrepreneurship.
According to Du Plessis, the level and quality of works on display at Digifest 8 is ‘top-notch’ and promises to be a feast for art and technology lovers.
“From our entry-level students to industry professionals around the globe, everyone has put forward their absolute best work for this event. We are so proud to show it off! The broad range of ideas, inspirations, and interpretations, as well as the variety in mediums, techniques, and experimentation is truly impressive! The pandemic has thrown a major curveball; however, these artists have use it to produce really amazing work,” she said.
To attend the DUT Digifest 8, please go to www.digifest.dut.ac.za/programme/ to view the programme and click on the links of the sessions that you would like to attend.
Pictured: Maria Mathole’s work which will be on display under the ‘Images in the Corona rear-view mirror’ exhibition.
Andile Dube and Simangele Zuma
