Site-specificity in The educators new clothes by Mark Rautenbach

Abstract

This study is an enquiry into how The educator’s new clothes by Mark Rautenbach is an example of site-specific art. The aim is to demonstrate how boundaries in TENC become blurred between site-specific performance, other art forms, and every-day activities. The key concepts explored are: Rautenbach’s approach to the concept of site, the connections that develop between his performance and each site that he travels to; his use of the art gallery and viewer participation. Through literature study relevant theory is explored, and several arguments are applied in a selective manner to my analysis of TENC. Various International and South African site-specific artworks are discussed as an indication of how site-specificity can be applied in alternative ways. In October 2017 I installed GREENER?, a site-specific exhibition in the UNISA Art gallery. The works on the show underline the theoretical findings and highlight the flexible application of theory relating to site-specificity.

Dinyakišišo tše ke phatišišo mabapi le seo se dirago bokgabo bja The educator’s new clothes (TENC) ka Mark Rautenbach go ba mohlala wa bokgabo bja lefelong le itšego. Maikemišetšo ke go laetša ka fao ka go TENC mellwane magareng ga mošomo wa ka lefelong le mehuta ye mengwe ya bokgabo le mediro ya ka mehla di thomago go se sa bonagala gabotse. Mareo ao a šomišwago ke: mokgwa wa Rautenbach go kgopolo ya lefelo, dikgokagano tše di hlamegago magareng ga phethagatšo ya ya gagwe ya mošomo le lefelo le lengwe le le lengwe leo a yago go lona, tšhomišo ya gagwe ya kalari ya tša bokgabo le go kgatha tema ga babogedi. Ka go diriša dingwalwa teori ya maleba e a utollwa, gomme dintlha tše mmalwa di a dirišwa ka mokgwa wa go kgetha go tshekatsheko ya ka ya TENC. Mešomo ya bokgabo ya ka lefelong le itšego ya mehutahuta e a ahlaahlwa bjalo ka kutollo ya ka fao bokgabo bja ka mafelong bo ka dirišwago ka ditsela tše dingwe. Ka Oktoboro 2017 ke hlomile GREENER?, e lego pontšho ya bokgabo ya ka lefelong le itšego, ka Kalaring ya Bokgabo ya ka Unisa. Mešomo ye e bontšhitšwego e laeditše dikutollo tša teori le go laetša tirišo ye e fetogago ya teori mabapi le mešomo ya bokgabo ya ka lefelong le itšego.

Hierdie studie behels ʼn ondersoek na wat van The educator’s new clothes (TENC) deur Mark Rautenbach plekspesifieke kuns maak. Die oogmerk is om aan te toon hoe die grense tussen plekspesifieke uitvoering, ander kunsvorme en daaglikse bedrywighede vervaag. Die kernkonsepte wat verken word, is Rautenbach se beskouing van die konsep van plek, die verband tussen sy uitvoering en elke plek waarheen hy reis, sy aanwending van ʼn kunsgalery, en kykerdeelname. Die tersaaklike teorie word aan die hand van ʼn literatuurstudie verken, en ʼn aantal argumente word op selektiewe wyse op my ontleding van TENC toegepas. Verskeie internasionale en Suid-Afrikaanse plekspesifieke kunswerke word bespreek as ʼn verkenning van hoe plekspesifisiteit op ander maniere toegepas word. Ek het in Oktober 2017 ʼn plekspesifieke uitstalling met die titel GREENER? in die Unisa Kunsgalery gehou. Die werke wat uitgestal is, onderstreep die teoretiese bevindings en vestig die aandag op die buigsame toepassing van die teorie in verband met plekspesifisiteit.