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Jozi Book Fair (JBF) partnered with the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG) to facilitate a workshop series about how to create posters that tackle Gender Based Violence (GBV). Poster making and art are ancient ways of communicating messages. The Setsi Sa Mosadi Feminist Network (FemNet) members usually meet at Khanya College in Johannesburg but due to COVID-19 their meetings have moved to Zoom, a video chatting application.
The JBF hosted and facilitated the first part of the workshop series on Zoom on 20 August, where the participants discussed different kinds of violence, how violence takes place in different spaces, including homes and workspaces and why there has been a steady increase in violence. Participants discussed these different themes and how feminists can respond to violence and the role they can play. This was followed by a socially distanced physical workshop at JAG in the Johannesburg CBD on 22 August. The physical workshop was attended by a small group of 13 women.
FemNet members observed social distancing and had their face masks on and sanitisers. The session took place in the courtyard of JAG. It was cold on the day but people did not complain as their minds were occupied with creating posters. The facilitators, Tammi Mbambo and Omphemetse Ramathlatse, got people thinking on their feet and busy. They picked up on the zoom meeting discussion and got participants to use posters to express their thoughts on GBV.
Participants looked at what they could do differently as women’s movement currently are not changing the situation of working class women or lessening GBV. Participants first made posters individually, putting everything they had in mind on A3 paper; drawing pictures, using paint and text. They then formed two groups to make joint posters that were beautiful and had strong messages. The experience was exciting for the Fems. Some Fems said the experience was therapeutic.
This article was submitted on 28 August 2020. You may republish this article, so long as you credit the authors and Karibu! Online (www.Karibu.org.za), and do not change the text. Please include a link back to the original article.
