Premier Alan Winde and Museum Service launch second exhibition at Leeuwenhof

On Saturday, 28 May 2022, Premier Alan Winde, with support from officials from the Museum Service of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), launched the second art exhibition, named Palimpsest, to be housed at Leeuwenhof.
 
Premier Winde officially launched the Remembrance Gallery at Leeuwenhof in February this year. A public gallery is held every first Saturday of the month, where members of the public can join a tour of the exhibition. 
 
Palimpsest is the second iteration of a series of art exhibitions curated by the Association for Visual Arts at Leeuwenhof. The objective of this project is to create a site of remembrance to reflect on the continuing legacy of slavery. The legacy of slavery includes both a rich contribution to the cultural legacy of Capetonians and a negative ongoing legacy of economic marginalization. Combining a historical exhibition and a contemporary art gallery provides background information to the history of enslaved people while giving the opportunity to artists who identify with the history of slavery to express themselves on their heritage and contemporary society.
 
The exhibitions also aim to create a platform for artists to build a public profile and to sell their work. Cape Town Museum organizes two tours on the first Saturday of the month to view the exhibitions.
 
DCAS Head of Department Guy Redman thanked Premier Winde for his vision in creating this space to tell the story of the buildings of Leeuwenhof. He also emphasized the importance of listening to those stories being told and to reflect on and learn from them.
 
Minister Anroux Marais said: “It is important that we tell the stories of slavery in our province, and especially that we acknowledge these stories as part of the history of the buildings that we occupy. We must learn from the past as we move into the future. I hope that everyone takes up the opportunity to come and see this exhibition and learn more about our province’s history.”  
 
Premier Winde said: “When my wife, Tracy, and I first conceptualized the Leeuwenhof Slave Remembrance Gallery, we did so with the aim of giving a voice to the voiceless and a name to the nameless. Following extensive research conducted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports, we were able to tell a more complete and inclusive story of those who had been enslaved at Leeuwenhof. That is why today, you will see those uncovered names of people who had been enslaved displayed in the exhibition component of the gallery.”
 
“The exhibition further aims to empower those who are descendants of enslaved people not only with the knowledge of their history, but further with a creative outlet to express the impact of slavery and its cruel legacy on residents today. It does so by enabling artists whose focus relates to that history to exhibit and sell their work at the gallery. This is helping to create greater recognition for our local artists and is helping them to get back on their feet following the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Members of the public who would like to join the monthly tours can contact capetownmuseum@westerncape.gov.za to book their spots.