Performance and Visual Arts

The research theme of performance and visual arts is concerned with the study of various forms of artistic expression, such as theatre, dance, music, film, and visual art. This research draws on a wide range of fields within the humanities, such as art history, theatre studies, musicology, and cultural studies. Researchers within this theme are interested in exploring the various aspects of artistic production, performance, and reception. This includes investigating questions such as: How do artists create and communicate meaning through their work? What are the social and cultural contexts in which different forms of art are produced and consumed? What roles do the audience and spectatorship play in the creation and reception of art? How does art shape our understanding of different cultural and historical contexts? The research within this theme often focuses on the close analysis of specific works of art, as well as the factors that shape their creation and reception. For example, researchers might analyse the representation of gender or race in a particular film, or examine the political messages conveyed through a piece of public art. This research area emphasizes the importance of creativity and innovation, highlighting how artists challenge traditional boundaries and critique societal norms.

Research Clusters

Poverty, Inequality, and Development

Gender, Sexuality, and Feminist studies

Race, Culture, and Identity

Language and Society

Health, Welfare, and Human Security

Politics, Governance, and Citizenship

Ethics, Social Justice, and Human Rights

Land, Environment, and Sustainable Development

Conflict, Violence, and Reconciliation

Science, Technology, and Communication

Performance and Visual Arts

Africa Open Institute	Prof Stephanus Muller	The involvement of the arts in institution-making in the university, South African art music, African art, music and the historiography of music in South Africa. Exploration of biographical and philosophical perspectives on music, and approaches to scholarly writing and form.
Africa Open Institute	Prof Hilde Roos	Opera in Southern Africa. Active member of the Black Opera Research Network, which is an international scholarly collective.
Ancient Studies	Dr Samantha Masters	Ancient visual culture of the Mediterranean; the reception of Classical visual culture on African contemporary art.
	Prof Phlip Bosman	Ancient Greek drama.
	Dr Renate van Dijk-Coombes	Visual and material culture of Ancient Western Asia and North Africa, focusing, especially on Mesopotamia.
Drama	Dr André Gerber	Performance Studies.
	Mrs Zoettje Hofmeyr	Voice linked to training, Acting and performance, Michael Chekhov Technique, Directing.
	Ms Nicole Holm	Aligning duty of care and industry preparedness in the methods and content of actor training at tertiary institutions.
	Prof Petrus du Preez	Performing is knowing: the imagination, puppetry, and performance creation process in the world of mud and sand.
	Dr Mareli Pretorius	Drama education and training.
	Ms Estelle Olivier	Investigating the choreographer-facilitator role through PAR with specific focus on artistic research output.
	Dr Schalk van der Merwe	Research focuses on integrating heightened acting styles, pantomime, and choreography in theatre. Emphasizes the synthesis of acting, music, and diverse skills for compelling performance narratives.
	Ms Amelda Brand	Applied theatre practices.
General Linguistics	Dr Schalk van der Merwe	Linguistic identity in music performance.
Geography & Environmental Studies	Prof Ronnie Donaldson	Art washing and urban change.
Journalism	Dr Gabriël Botma	Arts journalism.
Modern Foreign Languages	Prof Ingo Müller	Intermediality & Aesthetics; relationships between Literature, Music, and other Art Forms (e.g. opera libretto, song).
Music	Erik Dippenaar	Historical performance practice in music.
	Karin Maritz	Methodology, interpretation, and performance of the French Baroque Style.
	Bridget Rennie-Salonen	Performance psychology; music psychology; and performance science.
	Dr Peter Martens	Historically Informed Performance Practice.
	Prof Pieter Grobler	Piano Performance: Solo Piano and Chamber Music, Repertoire Studies, Piano Pedagogy. Supervision in Performance-related studies including analysis, repertoire studies, performance studies.
	Prof Nina Schumann	Piano Performance: Solo, Piano Duo and Chamber Music, Chamber Music Repertoire, Piano Pedagogy.
	Prof Mario Nell	Organ Performance, Piano Performance, Pedagogy, Repertoire Studies, Performance Practice, Church Music.
	Dr Martin Berger	Choral Performance, Church Music, Performance Practice.
	Ms Leonore Bredekamp	Theatre making; Musical/Cabaret directing.
	Prof Minka Woermann	Creativity, creative flow, drawing.
RADAR	Dr Robyn Pharoah	Dramatic art methods – role play and scenario-planning in understanding local risk environments and risk perceptions among members of at-risk communities.
Visual Arts	Dr Kathryn Smith	The amalgamation of forensic and visual art studies; curatorial arts and imagining new institutional forms; co-investigations in the forensic identification space; repositioning post-modern Forensic Art practices.
	Mieke Hall	Place of transcultural children’s books in post-Apartheid South Africa.
	Prof Lize van Robbroeck	Psychoanalytic theories of subjectivity in postcolonial visual culture.
	Dr Karolien Perold-Bull	Design philosophy and theory; design education.
	Ledelle Moe	International Sculpture installations.
	Prof Elizabeth Gunter	Drawings of human-animal relationships; drawing as a medium of dissent, challenge, and critique.
	Kiveshan Thumbiran	Focus on positioning the ‘Indian Body’ in contemporary South Africa; the diaspora of Indian migrants.
	Karlien De Villiers	Storytelling and narrative; intersection of illustration, design, and technology.
	Prof Ernst van der Wal	Drawing and the experience of intimacy; curatorial studies the politics of queer representation.
	Dr Stephanie Vos	Studies in South African jazz and improvisation.
	Prof Stella Viljoen	Comparing South African art and media with that from the Global North.
	Ms Joani Groenewald	Visual Arts; Art Jewellery.
	Miss Jo-Ann Chan	Interdisciplinary potential of narrative and image as research tools; Professional identity development in design curricula (WIL, SIL, professional practice, communities of practice).
Drama	Ms Amelda Brand	The accessibility of performing arts practices related to infrastructure and artistic language to expand and explore the potential of the life-drama connection. Research also focuses on performing artists in multi-disciplinary spaces with shared goals.
Drama	Dr Mareli Pretorius	Decolonising Higher Education curriculums and general curriculum reform. I also focus on training teachers and developing arts education in the Basic Education sector.