Permanent Exhibition: Voices of the Land
‘Voices of the Land’ is the National English Literary Museum’s permanent exhibition. The exhibition tells the story of South Africa through the lens of the country’s literature, from the earliest writing of the colonial period through to some of the most recent work being produced. The two principal themes are conflict and the environment, and these are woven through the whole of the story. Five of South Africa’s national languages are represented, there is a diversity of perspectives and positions, and both written and oral literatures are presented. A selection of significant artifacts from the museum’s collections is on display, and there are a number of audiovisual installations.
Temporary Exhibition: About ‘Humanature’
As a Green Museum, the National English Literary Museum recognises that the deep links between culture and nature are sources of the ecological crisis we face today, as well as sources of potential solutions to this great challenge. Since the mid-1990s, the ways in which the human relationship to nature is represented in our literature has changed dramatically. This reflects changes in our society and our cultures, and our growing awareness of the ecological crisis. ‘Humanature’ is an exhibition of literature that demonstrates an increasingly respectful treatment of nature and of living things.
NanjengoMyuziyam ‘Oluhlaza,’ thina siyakuqonda ukuba unxulumano olunzulu phakathi kwenkcubeko nendalo yintsusa yengxaki yendalo esijamelene nayo namhlanje, kanti kunokwenzeka ukuba ikwayimithombo yesisombululo kulomceli-mngeni mkhulu kangaka. Ukususela embindini weminyaka ye-1990, iindlela apho ubudlelwane boluntu kwindalo olumelwe ngayo kuncwadi lwethu luye lwatshintsha ngokuphawulekayo. Oku kubonisa utshintsho kuluntu lwethu kwakunye nenkcubeko yethu, kwaye kukhula nokuqonda kwethu ngengxaki yendalo. Umboniso i-‘Humanature’ ngowoncwadi olubonisa ukwenyuka kwenkathalo yokukhathalelwa kwendalo kwakunye nezinto eziphilayo.
As ‘n Groen Museum erken ons dat die diep verbintenisse tussen kultuur en natuur deel uitmaak van vandag se ekologiese krisis. Moontlike oplossings tot hierdie groot uitdaging kan egter ook hieruit spruit. Die manier waarop mense se verhouding tot die natuur in ons letterkunde uitgebeeld word, het dramaties verander sedert die mid-1990s. Dit reflekteer veranderinge in ons samelewing en ons kulture en ons groeiende bewuswording van die ekologiese krisis. Die letterkunde uitgelig in ‘Humanature’ demonstreer ‘n groeiende respekvolle behandeling van die natuur en lewende wesens.
Temporary Exhibition: Voices of Protest
Where racism, censorship and human rights violations of all kinds have occurred, artistic communities have often led the way in protesting these injustices. ‘Voices of Protest’ is an exhibition of letters, written by South African authors and publishers through the 1960s to 1980s, which show their uncompromising stance against apartheid and censorship. The exhibition includes the museum’s collection of sketches of authors by Nils Burwitz.
Travelling exhibitions
NELM is proud to announce the loan from the Nelson Mandela Museum of the exhibition ‘Dear Mr Mandela, Dear Mrs Parks: Children’s Letters, Global Lessons’. The exhibition examines themes of human rights, freedom and justice through the letters children have written to human rights icons Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks. NELM invites members of the public to write a letter to their hero, and to share it with the museum. The exhibition will be at NELM until December 2018.
