Humusha: ART + SCIENCE
Humusha is the isiZulu word for “translation” or “interpretation”.
To translate or interpret means to create opportunities for understanding and ideas to move between spoken and written languages and their associated cultures. Here we borrow this notion to indicate the important of forging possibilities of movement between modes of knowledge: art and science.
Humusha is a collaboration between VANSA (the Visual Arts Network of South Africa) and the South African Research Chair in Science Communication. Together, we are working to produce a platform where applied artists and scientific researchers can find one another and work together. Visual communication is a key conduit that can bring together not only artists and scientists, but also scientific research with its publics.
Humusha allows scientists to find applied artists to work with to help them communicate their research findings to the broader public, as well as to niche audiences. It also serves as a portfolio platform for working artists available to be commissioned to create visual material to serve scientific research projects.
Beyond these specific needs, Humusha aims to serve as a space for forging interdisciplinary relations and new ways of working together, for scientists and artists.
Humusha is now live and can be accessed at www.humusha.co.za.