Just two more from the South African exhibition Woza Moya on the South Bank:
There is a lot of finesse in this pared down antelope head; and I really loved the Kaffee Fassett style pouffe.
It looks like a tapestry but the entire thing is beadwork (arranged on facemasks!)
When I was a child and we went to Durban there were always rickshaws "driven" by Zulu's with shiny dark bare chests, imposing antelope horns on their headdresses and tons of beadwork. They used to do a kind of rickshaw dance to build up steam and off you would go along the esplanade. There were also women selling beadwork, exquisitely made, but alas, with such poor quality thread that the jewellery always broke.
Other beaded souvenirs lacked artistic merit. Nowadays there is a lot of collaboration between artists and craftspeople and the beadwork is often done with wire and is strong and as beautiful as ever.
I feel that this sort of artistry won't last because its so labour intensive, so collect it while you can and support the craftspeople.
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