"The modesty of a story can invade our skin, like the sun, like playing in the sand on the beach. A torrent of mixed up thoughts responding to a pandemic that chances its' face every time I open my eyes...  And then, there it is, Real Stories Gallery. It brings the gentle touch of humanity into our lives and our thoughts... It breathes a solidarity that goes beyond being mobilised by slogans. "

Jan Jordaan The Human Rights Activist:

Jan is a Master Printmaker and lecturer at the Durban Institute of Technology, South Africa.  In 1996 Jan designed and published the Images of Human Rights print portfolio with the Artists for Human Rights Trust of which he was a co-founding member in 1988. 

Jan went on to co-found & Direct Art For Humanity. He was responsible for designing and publishing the prestigious and widely acclaimed series of international fine art and poetry portfolios. These include: Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) International Print Portfolio (1999); Break the Silence HIV/AIDS Portfolio (2000); Women Artists and Poets Advocate Children's Rights Portfolio (2006); Dialogue Among Civilisations Print Portfolio (2010).  Using this enduring leadership body of work created by Art For Humanity as a basis for inspiration and advocacy, Jan also established "Art and Poetry Human Rights and Social Justice Workshops" for school children within Durban, South Africa.

"As a white Afrikaner male, I represent that for which ‘ aparthate' was declared a crime against humanity. It is important for me to facilitate, through that which I know best - printmaking - some sort of insurance against all present day and future, crimes against humanity..."

Jan is a 2010 recipient of the Art and Media Award. The Centre For Fine Art and Animation Design's TLTL (Too little Too late) Award was initiated in 2005 by Nanda Soobben; cartoonist, animator and journalist:  "These awards are given to individuals who contribute unselfishly to the community without the recognition they deserve... Most South African artists have highlighted the plight of the struggle for freedom, and through their work people were able to break the silence. These men and women have an incredible talent. The contributions they have made to the South African media and art industry are priceless."

Jan Jordaan The Artist:

In 1984, Jan spent six months at the Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France and repeated another six-month stint at this institute in 1991. In 1998, he became a consultant to the Goree Institute on Goree Island, Senegal.  Since 1976 until the early eighties Jan played an active part in assisting with organizational activities in the trade union movement in Durban, notably the Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union of South Africa. Jan completed a B.A. in Fine Arts at the University of Pretoria, South Africa in 1973.  He has worked as a lecturer in South Africa at Potchefstroom University and the Durban Institute of Technology.

Solo exhibitions include: 1987 at the Carmel Gallery in Cape Town; 1990 and 1993 at the Technikon Natal. Selected group exhibitions include: 1996 Natal Biennale, Durban Art Gallery; Jabulisa The Art from Kwa - Zulu - Natal, Standard Bank National Festival, Grahamstown; 1997 Printmaking in a transforming South Africa, Standard Bank National Festival of the Arts, Grahamstown;1998 Wings of Desire, Menzi Mcunu Gallery, Bat Centre, Durban with Breyten Breytenbach and Sibusiso Maphumulo.

International exhibitions include: 1994- Troisieme Trienale Mondiale dEstampes, Chamalieres, France; 1996 Groundswell Contemporary Art from South Africa, Mermaid Gallery, London, UK; 1996 The Naked Zebra Gallery, Convent Garden, London, UK.  His work has been shown multiple times in South Africa and abroad.

"Art created today will influence the social values of future generations," by Jan Jordaan.

Art is dependent on creativity, and creativity in turn represents the quest for freedom of expression which is central to Human Rights. Human Rights in turn form the cornerstone of all sustainable democracies representing present day examples of sustainable social and economic development. It is therefore of ultimate importance that humanity employs the arts, in particular the visual arts as central to and as part of all developmental initiatives.

Too many children of the developing world, in particular, grow up in environments devoid of any symbols or objects to lend visibility to the values associated with art. These values include, creativity, freedom of expression, excellence, dignity, pride, respect for the individual and individual rights, maturity, sustainability, inspiration and reflection etc. It is therefore not surprising that children become adults lacking in having taken moral ownership of these values.

One observes that humanity itself is under threat without art; art created with the intention to inspire all of humanity and with the goal to share with all of humanity.  Such art - as is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, gives expression to our beliefs, identity, place and objects, and our moral ownership within a society that values human rights and democracy.  Without this cultural context, one that values art, society can only be subjected to endemic problems regarding, government, education, health, justice the environment and sustainable social transformation.