Thread for a Web Begun brings together silk tapestries spanning 15 years of the Malawi-born, Johannesburg-based artist, Billie Zangewa's career. Zangewa's works explore themes of society, identity, and feminism through an intricate creative practice.
Zangewa does not make grand gestures or even overt political statements, but rather, like a kind of "daily feminism," focuses on mundane domestic preoccupations; themes connecting us all. Zangewa states "I use fabric and sewing, which traditionally is a female pastime, to empower myself. I tell my personal story, how it’s happening on the home front, and show the intimate life of a woman, which usually we’re not encouraged to do." Zangewa views telling her own story in her own voice as a kind of personal empowerment. Historically, this has been very difficult for women in general, but particularly for women of color with many social obstacles to overcome.
Although many of the scenes depicted in Zangewa's layered silk tapestries are autobiographical, there is a relatability that goes beyond her personal journey as an artist. Zangewa's labor-intensive processes recall the historic implications of "women's work," but remain a steadfastly contemporary interpretation of lived experiences. Zangewa is dealing firstly with identity, as well as socio-politics around gender and skin tone, in a gentle everyday manner. She is also exploring the different roles that women play in society, including motherhood and the impact that it has individually and collectively. The images in her work are deliberately decontextualized. However, when shown in a group, their fragmentary nature is further emphasized, suggesting they are excerpted from a larger narrative.
Learn more on the Gantt Center’s website.