All Shall Be Afforded Dignity – Oxford

International Nelson Mandela Day

International Nelson Mandela Day is celebrated around the world on 18 July, his birthday. From Cuba to Canada and South Africa to Suriname, people pledge to give 67 minutes of their time to help their communities through volunteering, honouring the 67 years Mandela devoted to public service.

ACTSA will be at Cowley Library between 1–3pm on 18 July with a drop-in ‘how to’ print art workshop using lino cut blocks, inspired by the current exhibition of lino prints by South African artist Norman Kaplan.

The activity is free, open to anyone aged 16 and over, and everyone who takes part can also choose a Streetwires piece of art as a memento.

Call Cowley Library on 01865 815137 for further details

This event is part of ACTSA’s 30th anniversary year and the national tour of All Shall Be Afforded Dignity. See more information below.

About the exhibition: All Shall Be Afforded Dignity

This exhibition celebrates how a movement of ordinary people across the world responded to a clear injustice of legalised racism, joining those South Africans leading the demand for equality and dignity for all. In the UK, the British Anti-Apartheid Movement was one of those leading action against racism.

As ACTSA’s 30^th anniversary year opens, we reflect on how, as the successor organisation in the UK, we continue that work to strengthen social justice in the region and sustain the idea of international solidarity through shared actions for democracy, human rights, and peace.

Dignity is a universal theme. Achieving a state where no one is left behind requires sustained solidarity and dialogue as well as legislation and policy for every citizen of the world. This exhibition provides a space for reflection and remembrance, appreciation, and future action—to be part of the global community seeking a common goal: the fulfilment of the promise of the UN Declaration of Human Rights across Southern Africa.

“All Shall Be Afforded Dignity” is organised around the work (of the same name) that artist Norman Kaplan made in 1996 in response to a call for art to respond to the ‘home’ of the Constitution of newly democratic South Africa. His lino-cut, All shall Be Afforded Dignity, was awarded the first prize honour to be engraved into a window for permanent presence in the South African Constitutional Court.

Exhibiting (lino-)prints and cartoons created by the artist, whilst living in apartheid-South Africa, as an artist in exile in the UK to support the liberation movement, and as a response to the hope offered by a new South Africa, the exhibition weaves a narrative that explores the interconnected themes of dignity, democracy, and the enduring human spirit.

Touring History:
The exhibition has toured widely across the UK, with previous installations in Camden, Manchester, Bristol, Central London, Norwich, and Newcastle. It now continues its journey to Oxford in June and July, engaging new audiences in a dialogue on justice, solidarity, and the power of art to inspire change.

The artist:  Norman Kaplan (b: 1947)

Norman is a South African of Russian Jewish heritage. His lived-experience of, and solidarity with, the effects of the stratification of race under apartheid, is articulated through his public facing print making and, in the cartoons, and design work created for the liberation movement, including clandestine cartoons and false covers to avoid apartheid-censors created for political publications and public awareness raising materials created for advocacy vehicle the International Defence and Aid Fund. The exhibition brings together works from both of these strands of Kaplan’s artistry, speaking to the power of collaboration, solidarity, and art as a tool of struggle to create awareness and change, paving the way for widespread acceptance and understanding of the value of human rights and implementation of change towards true freedom and equality for all.

The exhibition delves into the accessible methods of drawing and lino-printing employed by Kaplan, recognising these techniques as tools of struggle, change, and resilience. From the never publicly displayed cartoons created in exile by Kaplan for The African Communist and the ANC’s Sechaba whilst to his more publicly known works, including some from the Constitutional Court’s collection, Kaplan’s art stands as a testament to the enduring power of creativity in the face of adversity, emphasising its role as a potent force for social transformation. His art serves as a potent storyteller of human rights struggles, inviting viewers to reflect on the shared human experience, fostering awareness and empathy.

“All Shall Be Afforded Dignity” transcends mere retrospective celebration; it emerges as a dynamic forum for reflection on the values propelling societal progress. Kaplan’s art offers as a bridge connecting historical struggles to contemporary aspirations, urging contemplation on the relevance of accessible artistic methods as instruments of positive change, not only in South Africa but in the collective pursuit of a better world for all. In a global context where individuals grapple with the denial of their inherent rights, the exhibition inspires hope for a future where dignity universally prevails.

Co-organisers:
“All Shall Be Afforded Dignity” is co-organised by ACTSA and the Anti-Apartheid Legacy, in collaboration with Anti-Apartheid Movement Archives. Together, we honour and preserve the legacy of international solidarity and resistance, ensuring the stories, artworks, and actions of the past continue to inspire future generations.

To become involved in the work of Action for Southern Africa, working with civil society across the UK and the Southern Africa region, email us: [email protected]