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Sibande has golden touch

EVEN people who cannot be bothered to visit a gallery are likely to know Mary Sibande, or at least about her work.

Many were introduced to the 2013 Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner, in Visual Arts, through a collection from her Long live the dead queen solo exhibition that was hung tall on several inner city buildings in Joburg during 2010.

The work represented three generations of women and the relay of servitude passed down from one to another.

In creating her collection, Sibande utilised the fabric used to produce uniforms for domestic workers in order to design imposing garments in the style and taste of Victorian costumes.

It's pieces that could also be interpreted as communicating a message about the played down power of a domestic worker and their social status, thanks to political and historical blows, perceptions and attitudes towards domestics.

Sophie, Sibande's constructed alter go, wears the long costumes in Long live the dead queen collection which was initially displayed at Gallery Momo in 2009 and then at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in 2010.

The 30-year-old Barberton-born, Mpumalanga, artist intends to break away from the previous themes of her work in the new year.

"Golden threads running through my work include succession, progression and forwardness," she says.

Her new narrative and direction has been inspired by her anxieties, particularly the fear related to the loss of those she holds dear.

"I was recently awarded a two-month Smithsonian Fellowship in Washington. The residency (from June to July 2012) encouraged this shift through isolation which was both familiar and foreign," she says.

"The intention to limit physical contact with other Smithsonian fellows was an exercise in mimicking loss - a privileged position to assume - one that began the process of losing and mourning Sophie.

"This has given rise to, and allows for the emergence of another, humanoid character which is built up entirely out of fabric."

While Sibande believes artists are in a privileged position to spread their message, propose different perceptions and perspectives, it's unlikely she will present what may be considered temper flared-up and controversial work.

This is thanks to her conviction that, as a nation, we are in a very volatile state and need as much positive influence as possible.

In her personal view, the drama surrounding Brett Murray's painting, The Spear, from The Hail The Thief II exhibition, was not building the nation.

"Unfortunately the work divided people," she notes.

Sibande has critiqued stereotypical depictions through her work.

"Stereotypes have two functions: one is to take away the individuality from a person, saying for example black women's function in society is that of servitude. Secondly, it dwarfs aspiration, meaning that one can only hope for less." 

The dark and tall artist initially got inspired by her creative uncle and also looks to artists such as Juan Munoz, Kara Walker and Tracy Rose.

"I would like to inspire young aspiring artists (especially female) to be confident about choosing a career in the arts." 

Sibande has a diploma in fine arts from the Witwatersrand Technikon and a B-Tech degree from the University of Johannesburg.

Group exhibitions she has featured at include the Paris Photo 2011 in France, 54th International Exhibition in Venice Biennale in Italy and (Re) construction Contemporary Art from South Africa at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Mary's firsts

  • Her first choice of study was fine arts despite the fact that her sketch books were mostly full of dress designs. She designed her own and her friends' dresses for their matric dance."Fine art is more open and it explores more creativity" she says.
  • My Madam's Things staged in 2007 was my first solo exhibition. "The Standard Bank Young Artist award is the first award I won. I have also been acknowledged in other ways, including fellowships in the United States. My work was auctioned at Sotheby's New York for a fundraising benefit. I have had numerous residencies abroad that gave me time and resources to improve and develop my work.

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