Renowned South African artists Zanele Muholi and Zizipho Poswa will participate in the Frieze Sculpture 2024, a public art event featured at the annual contemporary Frieze art fair in London. Muholi and Poswa’s work will be presented at Southern Guild’s exhibition within the fair, alongside 22 other international artists.
Zanele Muholi’s featured work ‘Bambatha I’ explores themes of bodily autonomy and gender-based violence, while Zizipho Poswa’s work ‘Lobi’ draws on African traditions of adornment and womanhood.
Poswa’s ‘Lobi’ is an imposing ceramic and bronze sculpture standing over eight feet tall. Created by the artist during her residency at the Center for Contemporary Ceramics (CCC) at California State University Long Beach in summer 2023, this piece reflects her exploration of monumental scale. Under the mentorship of renowned ceramicist Tony Marsh, Poswa utilized the CCC’s expansive kilns, allowing her to craft this grand work. The residency offered her a unique opportunity to push the boundaries of her artistic practice through large-scale ceramic production.
Muholi’s ‘Bambatha I’ portrays a visceral representation of the artist’s body, reflecting themes of gender dysphoria and physical struggle. The figure symbolizes the artist’s battles with fibroids and the discomfort of their biologically defined form. This piece poignantly addresses feelings of bodily unease, anxiety, and depression, drawing attention to the complex relationship between identity and body forms.
The public art event, held in London's Regent’s Park from September 18 to October 27, will feature large-scale sculptures.
Source Information: Southern Guild
