The art of honest conversation

To try to address this knowledge gap and encourage critical discussion and reflection, Michaelis School of Fine Art elective lecturer Fabian Saptouw and his students have been working in partnership with UCT's HIV/AIDS, Inclusivity and Change Unit (HAICU) since 2012, exploring the connection between contemporary constructions of masculinity and HIV through art production and intervention.

"Art is being used in public spaces in an informal and interactive way, making it widely accessible, to engage people about HIV/AIDS," says Saptouw. "Our students are not standing back from tackling social issues and messages. And this is where art and education intersect."