Opening Speech by the curator of For Some, The Pathway To Education Lies Between Thorns exhibition by Peter E. Clarke

Opening Speech by the curator of For Some, The Pathway To Education Lies Between Thorns exhibition, Chepape Makgato (Chief Curator of William Humphreys Art Gallery)

14 March 2026

Good afternoon colleagues, students, artists, friends, and honoured guests.

I'd like to acknowledge my colleagues from William Humphreys Art Gallery, Ms Malikah Meyer, our curatorial assistant and Mr Moses Senyatso, our facilities officer who accompanied me here. Grateful that the management under the leadership of our director Ms Nelly Mkhize made this possible. I'd like to acknowledge the colleagues from School of the Arts and the entire UNISA community. 

Poster of the exhibition designed by Kemelo Letsoalo (WHAG Graphic Designer intern)

It is a great pleasure to welcome you today to the UNISA Art Gallery for the opening of the travelling exhibition For Some, The Pathway to Education Lies Between Thorns by the remarkable South African artist Peter E. Clarke.

This exhibition has travelled through different spaces and encountered diverse audiences along the way. At each venue it has opened new conversations and reflections. That is the beauty of a travelling exhibition, for it carries not only artworks, but also stories and ideas that continue to grow as the exhibition moves from one place to another.

For us at the William Humphreys Art Gallery, this journey is deeply important. As a national museum, we believe that having a national footprint must be realised in practice, not only prescribed by government statute. Museums should not exist only within their walls; they must reach outward, collaborate with other institutions, and engage audiences across the country.

At WHAG we hold a simple but powerful belief: Art is for Everyone.

This travelling exhibition stands as a testament to that principle. By moving across institutions and communities, it allows the work and legacy of Peter Clarke to reach new publics:  students, artists, scholars, and members of the broader community.

The title of this exhibition, For Some, The Pathway to Education Lies Between Thorns, is both poetic and profoundly relevant. It reminds us that the pursuit of education is not always a smooth journey. For many people, particularly in the history of South Africa, the road to knowledge has been filled with obstacles shaped by inequality, exclusion, and structural barriers.

In many ways, this title resonates deeply with Clarke’s own life.

Peter Clarke was, in every sense, what we might call an organic intellectual, yet he was denied the privilege of formal tertiary education under the apartheid system. Despite this, he developed into one of the most thoughtful and perceptive artistic voices in South Africa.

Through drawing, printmaking, painting, and writing, Clarke carefully observed everyday life. He chronicled the dignity of ordinary people, the rhythms of community life, and the social realities of South Africa with humility and remarkable clarity. His work reminds us that intellectual life does not exist only within universities; it also exists in lived experience, in observation, and in the disciplined act of making art.

For me personally, Clarke’s intellectual generosity became very real through a handwritten letter he once sent me. I had sent him a package that included a review and a small print, and he responded with warmth and thoughtful reflection. In that letter he wrote something that has stayed with me for many years. He said that he believed artists should also take an interest in scholarly pursuits, not only in the production of imagery for the market and the gallery.

Those words were deeply meaningful to me. In many ways, they planted a seed, a reminder that artistic practice and intellectual inquiry belong together. I often reflect on that line, and I must say that it is one of the reasons why today I find myself pursuing my PhD with the University of South Africa.

In that sense, Clarke’s words continue to guide my own journey as an artist, curator, and scholar. They remind us that art is not only about making objects; it is also about thinking, questioning, researching, and contributing to broader conversations about society and culture.

It is also important to remember that Clarke’s immense contribution to South African art and culture was widely recognised during his lifetime. In 2005 he was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga (Silver) by former president of the Republic of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki who today serves as the Chancellor of the University of South Africa. Later, in 2010, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of a career dedicated to artistic excellence and cultural contribution.

These honours affirm what many of us already know: that Peter Clarke was not only a remarkable artist, but also a profound observer of society, someone who documented the complexities of South African life with empathy, dignity, and clarity.

As we open For Some, The Pathway to Education Lies Between Thorns, I invite you to reflect on the deeper meaning of that title. It reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge and creativity often requires resilience. It also reminds us that institutions like museums and universities share a responsibility to make that pathway less difficult for future generations.

Thank you for being here today, and I invite you to spend time with the exhibition.