Volume 36 Number 07 - University of the Witwatersrand

Artsilla: Penetrating the Piazza,)xec,, buttheari 11,; theI notwithsaiditsandlanstres.for,00onhe)mofreral5einrd1trp'qAn exhibition of Edoardo wrthout being polished. TheVilta's sculpture can be viewedoccasional acid-corroded areaon the Piazza until the 30th adds textural variation.June.At the opening, Mr Villa saiciReaction has been varied that it took 4-5 months, averagingl8-20 hours a day to(Engineering students constructedtheir own 'masterpiece' in complete a major work. Whenresponse). The sculptures, as a asked for further comment, hewhole, are a unique synthesis of smiled and said,'not tonight'. Allorganic and mechanical forms. in all, an exhibition no studentThey stand at the meeting point can mlss.of art and technology and seem The Wits Student surveyorsto be a celebration of our modernindustrial society.The harsh angles and size ofmany of the works make themaggressive, alienating and attimes almost fascist. There is verylittle horizontal emphasis whichheightens the celebratory upwardthrust of the works, as well asallowing them to intimidate usfurther.Certain pieces have definitephallic infererlces (we need notelaborate on the 'Thrust' series).Yet even these are cluttered withprotective devices. Jail-like barsand 'armour plating' deny anyhumanity inherent in the sculptures.This is essentially art aboutconflict. The geometric andorganic elements are in constantopposition. lt also sets out toexplore the nature an possibilitiesof the media, the relationshipsbetween positive and negatlvespaces.None of the sculptures are freestanding.thus further alienatingthem from their surroundings.The base however is oftenintegrated and this helps balancethe somewhat top-heavy natureof many of the works. Theconstruction technique, weldingand finish are superb. The worksare subtly coloured withoutlosing their metallic qualities.The surface s are faily smoothT,JNIYERSITY OF TIIE WITWATERSRAJ\IDD€pafiment of Russlan StudlesD€partment of Engltsh Studlesln assoctrtton *'lthThe Universlty Playerspnes€ntr i't fihit campus extracting sculpturedopinions. Stretchingacross the breadth ofcampus,f,doardo's sculptures onceagain raise the question thathas baffled millions: 'ls thisart?'Sean M and Bruce Y saidthat 'Art is a waste of time' andthat there were'too many sculptures.. . and they're dangerous'.DA's opinion was that 'they'recertainly noticeable. but Idon'tappreciate sculptures. They detractfrom the peacefulness ofcampus'. A passerby was quotedas saying: 'They're cute. I thinkWits should buy a few.' SWMjust said:'Rubbish'.The pair of S Taylors remarkedthat 'they are free-standingscrap-piles. and belong in ajunk5 ard . . . but the weldings aregood.' Another person commented:'Why don't they bring backthe treesJ At least they giveshade!' Gail Ford and JanHjorthen: 'Where else can vouPut them'? - theY're dreadtul!'Startled at our approach. MCand TC said: 'We haven't reallylooked at them'. Someone in ared-striped T-shirt uttered oneword: 'Sucks!' A pair of Niketakkies said: 'A cult o1'thegrotesque. Ugliness has becomean art. They're grrreat!'Makes vou think. doesn't it'?THE GOVERNI'{ENTINSPECTORby Nikolai Gofoldirected by Jo:epb SberrryauDOWNSTAIRS AT THEWITS TTIEATREShall I compare thee to a summer's doy?InspectorspectreEver wondered what actuallYwent on in Tsarist Russie?Nicholai Gogol's PlaY 'The'The Government Inspector'should enlighten you. It is ebiting farce about life beforethe l917 Revolution. Thepleyis set in a small Russian townduring the rule of the lastTsar.The plot revolves around ayoung dandy of the town whomthe bureaucrats mistake for agovernment inspector. Theytherefore treat him with obsequiousreverence. The ensuingstiuations are potentiallyhilarious.The play is also concerned withhuman self-interest and how