The Johannesburg-based artist Mary Sibande who creates life-size sculptures of black women in brightly coloured and elaborate Victorian dresses, is one of two African artists (among 30 plus artists worldwide) awarded the Civitella Ranieri Foundation fellowships “… which every year brings several dozen visual artists, musicians, writers, poets and other creative types for six-week-long fellowships in the fifteenth-century Civitella Ranieri castle in Umbria.” The other is photographer Zanele Muholi.
There are so many lovely pieces from the Long Live The Dead Queen collection, it’s hard to choose a favourite.
I’m tempted to ask Sean what he makes of these images, considering the last conversation on Hlonipha Mokoena’s opinion on maids in South Africa…
When I found Mary’s artwork while online, I was so blown away. It just hit me right in my heart.
I grew up in Jo’burg. Maids were all dressed alike in those “overalls.” Mary’s colors; especially the green and dark blue are spot on. I just cannot imagine what her thoughts and feelings were as a young child. But the images that she retained tell the story of what it means to be a great artist and to tap into one’s own visual experiences.
My very best wishes for Mary; may she continue to bring more art to the world at large.
Linda