Hauntological engagements: Visual redress at Stellenbosch University Iingxoxo ngeHauntology: Ulungiso lwembonakalo kwiYunivesithi yaseStellenbosch

Abstract

This article asks the central question of how to practically engage in the ongoing production of space at Stellenbosch University (SU) as to reimagine and redefine spaces. Spaces, which affect people indirectly and subconsciously, can act as microaggressions on one hand and places of safety connected to identity on the other. The Visual Redress (VR) project at SU focuses on removing or replacing contentious visual elements on campus and facilitating engagements to alter experiences of places and spaces. The VR project is not only interested in physically transforming the space, but also in facilitating critical dialogue and physical interventions to engage in spatial memory and emotional remembrance. In this article Hauntology is used as a methodology to remember and reflect on visual elements on the Stellenbosch campus of SU and how the memory of the past and the dead in the form of visual elements still haunts the present. These hauntological engagements include crucial interactions with students, lecturers, and the various publics of the university. In this article the researchers will provide an overview of VR at SU and show and discuss the processes of three specific VR projects that were implemented at SU to illustrate the importance of hauntological engagements with the aim of reconstructing spaces. 

Eli nqaku liphakamisa owona mbuzo ungundoqo wendlela yokuzibandakanya kuqulunqo lweqonga oluqhubayo kwiYunivesithi yaseStellenbosch (iSU) njengokucinga ngokutsha kunye nokuchaza ngokutsha iqonga. Amaqonga, achaphazela abantu ngokungathanga ngqo yaye bengaqondanga bona, anokusebenza njengohlaselo olungaqondakaliyo kwelinye icala kunye neendawo zokhuseleko ezihambalena nobuni kwelinye icala. Iphulo loKulungiswa kweMbonakalo (VR) eSU ligxile ekususeni okanye ekutshintsheni iimbonakalo ezinokuxabanisa ekhampasini kunye nokuququzelela iindibano zokutshintsha amava eendawo kunye nawamaqonga. Eli phulo leVR alijolisanga kuphela ekuguquleni iqonga ngqo, kodwa likwajolise ekuququzeleleni iingxoxo ezibalulekileyo kunye nokungenelela ngokuthe ngqo okubandakanya iinkumbulo ngendawo kunye neenkumbulo ngokweemvakalelo. Kweli nqaku iHauntology isetyenziswa njengendlela yokukhumbula kunye nokucamngca ngezinto ezibonakalayo kwikhampasi yaseStellenbosch yaseSU kunye nendlela inkumbulo yexesha elidlulileyo kunye nabalishiyayo eli limagade ahlabayo ngendlela yezinto ezibonakalayo ezisakhathazayo kule mihla. Olu nxibelelwano lwe-hauntological lubandakanya uthethathethwano olubalulekileyo nabafundi, abahlohli, kunye noluntu lweyunivesithi ngokubanzi. Kweli nqaku abaphandi baya kubonelela ngesishwankathelo seVR eSU kwaye baya kubonisa ze baxoxe ngeenkqubo zamaphulo amathathu eVR athe aphunyezwa yiSU ukubonakalisa ukubaluleka kothethathethwano lwe-hauntological ngenjongo yokwakha ngokutsha iziko.