Introduction
Mary Sibande was born in Mpumalanga in 1982, and currently lives and works in the city of Johannesburg. She is a fine arts graduate from the University of Johannesburg and received her B-Tech degree in fine art in 2009 . Gaining inspiration from South African Colonial and apartheid history Sibnade creates unique mixed media life size installations (13). She has a love for fashion and originally wanted to pursue a career in fashion design, which is evident I her elaborate costume designs for her character Sophie(14). Through Sophie, Sibande tackles the issue of disempowerment of women , in particular focusing on the disempowerment of black women(7.2). Through her series of art pieces she tackles different themes through symbology …show more content…
Both of these societies put great emphasis on the position and place people holding in societal structures. Just as the immobility victorian fashion offered, so does the idea of knowing you place leave little room to maneuver (momogallery)
Though Sibande uses Sophie to express her ideas - she does not intend for there to be conceivable emotions of shame, anger or humiliation - instead she aims to transform reality where a domestic worker is capable of freeing herself. The significance of this being we are freed from our past - allowing all victims, beneficiaries and perpetrators of apartheid to be freed.
Over the past five years Sophie has shape-shifted in to an orchestra conductor, a superwomen, a military leader, a horse rider and a queen but to name just a few. Each time morphing and changing roles as she sends a message of hope which allows us as viewers to believe we can be freed from our past, from apartheid and can become anything our our hearts …show more content…
The introduction of this new colour seems to be Sibandes way of letting us know she is going to take on a new venture. For Sibande The Reign was about embracing a new position as an artist but still giving praise to the women in her family. Sophie is seen mounted on a horse , the composition suggests an almost battle ready if not victorious and free idea. This concept of Sophie on a horse would seem was Sibandes way of showing acknowledgement and appreciation for the hardships endured by the women in her family and so many others that endured these same hardships in South
Mary Sibande was born in Mpumalanga in 1982, and currently lives and works in the city of Johannesburg. She is a fine arts graduate from the University of Johannesburg and received her B-Tech degree in fine art in 2009 . Gaining inspiration from South African Colonial and apartheid history Sibnade creates unique mixed media life size installations (13). She has a love for fashion and originally wanted to pursue a career in fashion design, which is evident I her elaborate costume designs for her character Sophie(14). Through Sophie, Sibande tackles the issue of disempowerment of women , in particular focusing on the disempowerment of black women(7.2). Through her series of art pieces she tackles different themes through symbology …show more content…
Both of these societies put great emphasis on the position and place people holding in societal structures. Just as the immobility victorian fashion offered, so does the idea of knowing you place leave little room to maneuver (momogallery)
Though Sibande uses Sophie to express her ideas - she does not intend for there to be conceivable emotions of shame, anger or humiliation - instead she aims to transform reality where a domestic worker is capable of freeing herself. The significance of this being we are freed from our past - allowing all victims, beneficiaries and perpetrators of apartheid to be freed.
Over the past five years Sophie has shape-shifted in to an orchestra conductor, a superwomen, a military leader, a horse rider and a queen but to name just a few. Each time morphing and changing roles as she sends a message of hope which allows us as viewers to believe we can be freed from our past, from apartheid and can become anything our our hearts …show more content…
The introduction of this new colour seems to be Sibandes way of letting us know she is going to take on a new venture. For Sibande The Reign was about embracing a new position as an artist but still giving praise to the women in her family. Sophie is seen mounted on a horse , the composition suggests an almost battle ready if not victorious and free idea. This concept of Sophie on a horse would seem was Sibandes way of showing acknowledgement and appreciation for the hardships endured by the women in her family and so many others that endured these same hardships in South