inspired: Ernest Pignon Ernest

Wall of JCE, St Andrew's Rd, Parktown:

Deborah, meaning honey bee, is known for her flaming hair. After being abused by her first husband, she became an alcoholic and ended up on the streets. Fourteen years ago she fell pregnant and turned to the Anglican Church. She was rehabilitated and has been running an Anglican Nursery School for the children of abused women for ten years.

The dual nature of the bee symbolises the material and the spiritual aspects of life, as well as the creative feminine aspects of in all people . The image further plays on her nourishing and sustaining work in her community,

inspired by Swoon

Corner Jan Smuts and Bolton Ave, Parktown North:

moving forward

Yesterday: 14 Sept
Today: 15 Sept
Vrededorp:


The third woman is an amalgamation of several women. I named her Aisha, which means alive; she who lives. She was born into a Muslim family and grew up in Vrededorp where her father owned a dressmaker and fabric shop. She qualified as a teacher. After an arranged marriage she was expected to wear a burka and was subjected to emotional abuse and a very restricted life.

With the support of her moderate Muslim community and friends she divorced her husband and now lives with her two children. She discarded what she experienced as limiting and restrictive clothing and today is a senior teacher.

The image portrays the discarding of liminality and re-integration into society.

Finding my feet

Jan Smuts Ave, going north, just before highway offramp, next to KPMG entrance.

The second woman I portray is Mamello ( meaning patience) . She grew up in the Free State. She was raped by her uncle at the age of fifteen. She left an abuse marriage after 27 years when she was 46 years old and fled to a home for abused women in Johannesburg where we met. She has four children. Her body bears permanent scars. Today she makes and sells vetkoek to schoolchildren and workers who pass her makeshift stall every day.

Mamello dreams of her own little house with electricity.

In this work I allude to the performance art of Nelisiwe Xaba (Black!White? - 2009). She states: "In my art my body is my instrument" (Sichel 2009,29).

Mamello's instrument is damaged, but she can dream again. The traditional skirt refers to a Sesotho female initiation garment.