Sensum, 2002

Sensum is an exhibition of still-life photographic prints of collected objects about life's fleeting qualities. This recent body of work continues with the creative representation of ideas exploring the notion of transience and meaning in objects as well as their historical and cultural residue. The work focuses on the nature and relationship between printmaking and photography with the intention of transforming the intrinsically humble genre of still-life from a mere representation of reality to a more compelling and engaging presentation of an image. The works are large scale photographic prints made with light-sensitive emulsion and charcoal on paper. This exhibition forms part of the month of photography hosted by the South African Centre for Photography.

Sensum (also referred to as sense-datum) n. an immediate object of sensory perception.

Philos.
[L., sensed, that which is sensed, neut. pa. pple. of sentre to discern by the senses, to perceive.] = SENSE-DATUM. 1868 A. BAIN Senses & Intellect (ed. 3) 376 In Sensation, we seem to have the sentient mind, and the thing felt sentiens and sensum. 1920 S. ALEXANDER Space, Time, & Deity II. III. ii. 58 The non-mental external object which in this case is the sensum or sensible. 1923 C. D. BROAD Sci. Thought viii. 240 Such objects as y I am going to call Sensa. 1937 L. S. STEBBING Philos. & Physicists vi. 130 It is only because Russell and Joad first know that there are external objects that they are able to infer that there are private sensa. 1949 G. RYLE Concept of Mind vii. 213 The theory says that when a person has a visual sensation..his having this sensation consists in his finding or intuiting a sensum. 1967 Encycl. Philos. VII. 80/2 The essential point is that perceiving proper is the direct awareness of sensa. 1974 R. M. YOST in Carterette & Friedman Handbk. Perception I. ii. 33 One cannot locate a visual sensum in empty physical space without presupposing the Absolute Theory of Space.

'Journeys'
8 - 24 April 2020