Beyond the Surface showcases a dynamic blend of storytelling, identity exploration, and social reflection in the final bodies of work by third- and fourth-year UNISA students, presented by five emerging artists. Through diverse mediums—ranging from digital animation to sculpture and photography—this exhibition delves into personal and collective experiences. Each artist invites viewers into intimate worlds of self-discovery, where issues like gender roles, identity, societal expectations, and human emotion are laid bare. Whether it’s the tension between traditional masculinity, the complexity of emotions, or the symbolism found in hair and tools, these artworks ignite discourse on the challenges and beauties of being human in modern-day South Africa. Themes of inclusion, diversity, and introspection are vividly brought to life, blurring the boundaries between reality and fantasy, personal and political, and individual and community.

Curated by Rohini Amratlal