2024 Students

Babalwa Manyungwana also known as Balu (They/them) is a 24-year-old BA honors student specializing in curatorship at the University of Cape Town. As a recent graduate in Heritage and Cultural Tourism Management from the North West University (Potchefstroom campus), Balu is passionate about studying how people interact with cultural heritage, the way it is preserved, the way it is presented in public spaces, and how the public engages with it.

Throughout their academic journey, they have grasped strong research and writing skills, particularly in the fields of history, sociology, and social anthropology wherein they were able to draw connections among the three disciplines towards the presentation of cultural heritage in public spaces. Their interest in photography motivated them to explore roles outside of their academic pursuits, this includes volunteering as a photojournalist for the North West University student newspaper, Wapad. The role has therefore furthered and strengthened their attention to detail and appreciation for the nuances of artistic expression.

Moisha Nonhlanhla Mdhluli is a Cape Town-based multimodal artist specializing in photography, collage, and textile design. Moisha recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art from the University of Cape Town, where she explored the intersection of memory and photographic archives.

Moisha’s passion lies in the fusion of art and curatorial practices, recognizing the dynamic interplay between these disciplines. She finds fascination in the tension and nuanced dialogue that emerges when art and curation intersect.

Care, memory, and reconstruction serve as the cornerstone of her creative exploration and will prominently feature in her curatorial pursuits. Currently, Moisha’s curatorial focus revolves around cultural studies within the context of personal narratives and domestic spaces. This reflects her dedication to exploring the intersections between individual identity, societal norms, and the spaces we inhabit. Moisha aims to shed light on diverse cultural experiences and challenge conventional perspectives on domesticity and memory.

Emily Carver grew up in Knysna, a small coastal town six hours from Cape Town, before moving to the city in 2021 to study a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in both Art History and Film Studies at The University of Cape Town. She completed her degree with great success, achieving a spot on the Dean's Merit List for obtaining an average above 70% in her final year.

A keen learner, she continued her studies at a Postgraduate level, currently studying for an honors degree in Curatorship at the Michaelis School of Fine Art at The University of Cape Town. She has always loved design and the energy art creates in spaces and our lives, taking on a particular interest in the aesthetic and personal value of art in one's day-to-day life. Emily hopes to dually use her interest in art objects and spatial design to create projects that burst through their physical boundaries and interact with the audience- giving them the same experience that initially drew her to art and its modes of display.

Chieh-Ya was born in Taiwan and grew up in Port Elizabeth (now Gqeberha). Upon completion of both a National Diploma and a Bachelor of Technology in Tourism Management at Nelson Mandela University in 2016 and 2017 respectively, she worked in the hospitality industry first in Port Elizabeth and then in Abu Dhabi in 2019.

After returning to South Africa, she enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program at the University of Cape Town in 2021, triple majoring in Anthropology, Linguistics, and Archaeology.

Chieh-Ya has a strong interest in museums and archaeological artifacts, and how objects tell stories, as well as influence and express human cultural and social traditions. Her research focuses on oriental ceramics discovered at the Cape, and its travels across time and space.

Thato Makatu (they/them) is a South African artist and cultural producer in training, from Boksburg, Gauteng. Born in Norway and having moved across the world during their formative years, they recently completed their BA Fine Arts degree at Michaelis School of Fine Art, UCT.

Their artistic journey is deeply rooted in exploring concepts of home and stability, particularly through the lens of domestic spaces and the memories and identities they harbor. Their work delves into the intersections of personal memory, identity formation, and the physical environment. Thato's current focus in their curatorial studies revolves around the dynamics of domestic spaces, extending their inquiry to the boundaries between private and public spheres. They are intrigued by how these spaces intersect with ideas of Black self-representation and personal aesthetics, seeking to unravel the complexities therein.

Central to both their artistic and developing curatorial practice is how movement and the choreography of bodies in these physical spaces play a part in how personal memory and identity are constructed. They also are interested in how archives, both personal and public, interact with their constituents - which they have explored in their personal practice and internship with the Association of Visual Arts’ archival projects in 2023.

Hana Hassim was born in Durban and graduated from Stellenbosch University with a BA in International Studies in 2022. Before joining the Honours in Curatorship program in 2024 at the Michaelis School of Fine Arts. Her interest in the artistic world led her to work as a graphic designer for a local youth art magazine, Moyé.

Viewing curatorship as a catalyst for cultural dialogue and critique, she seeks to challenge societal norms and inspire critical reflection. Her research explores both the meaning and boundaries of feminine identity in contemporary society. By tracing its transitional dynamic from childhood to adulthood, she plans to portray the experiences and nuances of femininity through her Honours project.

Shako Gxilishe was born in 2002 in Cape Town, South Africa. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Cape Town in 2023, majoring in English Language & Literature and History. Her natural interest in history and preservation led her to the Honours program in Curatorship at the Michaelis School of Fine Art. Her special area of interest is the colonial history of the Cape, particularly the dynamics of day-to-day life for its civilians, as well as preserving what remains of it in the present era.

Julia Snowball was born in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape but has been living and studying in Cape Town for the last four years. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology and Art History from the University of Cape Town and is currently pursuing her Honours in Curatorship through UCT.

She is an art writer and was most recently published in the Mail & Guardian. She also contributes regular exhibition reviews to the online arts publication ArtThrob and has written for a research institute called ASAI. She has completed internships at art auction house Strauss & Co. and local gallery blank projects. She is most interested in exploring contemporary African painting and installation, with a focus on the uncanny or surreal.