Tackling art/craft nomenclature, again, with particular reference to octogenarian potter Alice Qga Nongebeza, of Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Since language evolved there has been an ongoing need for accurate terminology. With the passing of time English words, like those of other languages, have mutated in usage and meaning as ideas took on different aspects and imperatives changed. Furthermore, in post–1994 first democratic elections in South Africa [in post-1994 democratic South Africa], it is appropriate to carefully examine terminology that may carry overtones of pejorative attitudes which could have contributed to ongoing marginalisation of some artists working in particular media or regions of southern Africa, and elsewhere. Thus, just as terminology such as Iron Age, when applied to southern African prehistoric and more recent eras and artefacts, requires ongoing re–evaluation with regard to appropriateness, so too does contemporary usage of phraseology that includes the posing and implementation of art / craft dichotomies. This paper seeks to contextualise usage of art / craft phraseology, and also looks at aspects of previous recommendations for change in southern African usage thereof. Thereafter, without denying rights of individuals and societies to make up their own minds on aesthetic issues, conclusions reached include that it seems to be indeed appropriate to discontinue use of the word ‘craft’ in both local and other visual arts contexts.

Kususela oko ulwimi lwavela kwabakho imfuneko yamagama achanekileyo engaphelelanga. Ngokuhamba kwamaxesha amagama esiNgesi phakathi kwamanye ezinye iilwimi abangamagama angavakaliyo ekusetyenzisweni nakwintsingiselo nanjengokuba izimvo zisamnkela amacebo ahlukileyo kunye notshintsho olufunekayo. Ngaphezukoko emvakocalucalulo loMzantsi Afrika kufanelekile kuphononongwe ngenyameko amagama asetyenziswa kulwazi oluthile olunokuthwala ukukhwenca izimvo ezithotywayo ebezinge zincedisile ekujongelweni phantsi kwamanye amagcisa asebenza ngendlela ethile okanye imimandla yoMzantsi Afrika nakwezinye iindawo. Ngale ndlela, njengokuba igama elinjenge Xesha laMandulo xa lisetyenziswayo phambi kwembali ebhaliweyo yoMzantsi Afrika nexesha labumini nje ezimbalini nezinto ezenziwe ngumntu ziswela ukufuna ixabiso elingaphelelanga kwakhona, lokuzibekela, nanjengokusentyenziswa kwamagama eloxesha abandakanya ukudala nokuphumeza ukwahluka kubini komsebenzi wezandla. Eliphepha lizama ukubuyisela ukusetyenziswa kokukhethwa kwamagama omsebenzi wezandla, nokukhangela amacebo ezincomo ezadlulayo ukutshintsha kusetyenziso lwalo nto eMzantsi Afrika. Emvakoko, ngaphandle kokwala ilungelo lomntu ngamnye kunye noluntu ukukhetha imicimbi yobugcisa, eli phepha liphetha ngelithi ingathi kuyinene ukuzithabathela ukuyeka ukusebenzisa igama ‘craft’ [ubugcisa] kuzozombini ezindawo, kwindawo ethile nakweminye imicimbi yomsebenzi wobugcisa ebonakalayo.