Finding Upright: Constituting a diasporic place-making process

Finding Upright is a documented doctoral research project into Afro-diasporic place-making. It investigates how the processes of said place-making are made up of situated encounters, which are spatial, relational and systemic in nature. These encounters are informed by and operate across southern Africa and the Nordic regions, with key reference to Botswana, South Africa and Sweden as seminal geopolitical landscapes, social and cultural contexts.

There will be a presentation of a set of performative components on the evening of 16 April. In the 80% seminar on the 17 April Maipelo will propose a working set of inter-connected functions, their subsequent methods and the findings drawn from her practice-based exploration and analysis thus far in critical dialogue with opponent Dr. Lebogang Disele-Pitso. 

For the event on 16 April
As part of the artistic research project presented on 16 April, audience members are warmly invited to use their smartphones to take photos and share videos (of the performer) during the performance. This invitation is itself part of the work, a way of extending the event beyond the room and making community and kinship visible through shared images. 

Photos and videos of the performer taken during the event may be used as part of the research documentation and publication of this project. Due to principles of research ethics, the audience cannot be documented. We kindly ask that photos and videos are only focused on the performer and the performance elements. 

If you are willing for your image (of the performer) to appear in research documentation, please sign a consent and release form prior to the event. Please note that attendance at the event is not conditional on signing a consent form. 

Schedule 16 April

Presentation of performative components 
17:30  Arrival of audience 
17:35–17:40  Usher audience into venue
17:45–18:25  Part 1
18:30–18.40  Turnaround (10 min)
18.40–19.30  Part 2

Schedule 17 April

Percentage seminar 
13:00–13:05   Welcome 
13.05–113.50  Introduction of the artistic doctoral Research project by Maipelo Gabang
13.50–114.00  Break
14.05–114:40  Response by Lebogang Disele-Pitso
14:40–114:50  Break 
15:00–115:45  Discussion between Maipelo and Lebogang 
15:50–116:00  Change over 
16:00–116:30  Audience questions 

To gain a comprehensive insight into the artistic practice and its forms of expression, those subtle, physical elements that are not easily put into words or captured in writing, attendance on both days is warmly recommended.
On occasion, some of the more embodied nuances of the practice may feel more familiar to those who joined on 16 April, though this will in no way diminish your experience when attending the 80% seminar. Please do not hesitate to attend the seminar on its own; it is a complete and rewarding experience in its own right. 

For anyone wishing to join the seminar remotely on 17 April, there is the option of a live stream via Zoom. If you join via Zoom on 17 April, you will be able to follow the discussion with the opponent easily and your participation will certainly be worthwhile.

Link to the PhD project page

Link to live stream will come.