Bodyland - A Site For Contemplation

"Bodyland is a play on humanity’s need for geographical markers [e.g.: XhosaLand, Scotland, Switzerland et al. These are markers that suggest imposed grouping and soulful belonging in relation to the land – its history and ecological wants. It offers the artist, upon establishing [or rejecting] this relationship with the land and to embody this knowledge through artmaking. The body becomes the site [or even sight] for much contemplation." - Athi-Patra Ruga, Director - BODYLAND.

The residency was set up to provide a group of 8 creative young socially engaged residents of the Eastern Cape the opportunity to take their work, in whatever medium, to a new level while engaging with the history, natural resources and body/land politics of the Tyhume Valley. The area was centre stage for the Frontier Wars, Ciskei control, home to the University of Fort Hare and now the Black intellectual renaissance of Lovedale Press in relation…