Title: Interview of Cape Town University 1971
Medium: Linocut handmade print
Dated and signed on 1974
Unframed: 35cm x 40cm
Framed: 44cm x 50cm
In 1971, John Muafangejo applied to study at the Michaelis School of Art at the University of Cape Town. He was interviewed and rejected (later he was accepted by Rorke’s Drift as artist-in-residence). He did, however, record the event in the form of a linocut with the title: An interview of Cape Town University in 1971.
In an explanation of the work written by the Warren Siebrits Gallery (2004:1) the composition is reminiscent of the Last Supper. The artist himself sits at the end of the table. He appears defeated and unwelcome in the presence of the white academia. The pens they are pointing towards Muafangejo in the artwork resembles knives ready to injure or hurt him. He is also placed at the lowest level, where he takes on the role of an outsider or undesirable. Edward Lucie-Smith (1992:[sp]), makes the following observations about this work: “One print, An interview of Cape Town University in 1971, is a record of an unsuccessful confrontation with the white educational establishment. Despite the smugness of the serried white faces to which the black artist (seated modestly to one side) presents himself, the tone seems to be one of hurt rather than anger.”
