TALK:Memory, Repair, Redo in Practice

In 2026, South Africa marks the 30th anniversary of the Constitution—a living document that continues to embody the national project of reparation, redress and repair. As we consider reparative curatorial practices, it is essential to recognise the role of transformative justice as a foundation for lasting change. As adrienne maree brown writes in Pleasure Activism (2018), transformative justice offers a pathway toward collective healing by nurturing the belief that harm need not be perpetual. It invites artists, curators and cultural practitioners to move beyond documenting trauma, instead creating spaces where healing, accountability and new possibilities for collective existence can emerge.

This session explores how far the arts sector has come in advancing these ideals, and how the work of the invited speakers engages with contested memory, reconciliation and transformation through curatorial practice and artistic intervention.