The Voices of Women Archive (Amazwi Abesifazane) began some
10 years ago as a proposed artwork of Durban artist Andries Botha.
He began collecting embroidered, appliquéd stories of South
African women who told a story of the most important day of their lives or a
day they would never forget.
He soon realised that these creative narratives were, in fact,
personal stories that spoke to and reflected on South African history with the potential
to become an important component of the country’s fragile archive that needed
to be preserved. He invited Coral Bijoux to take this creative archival
collection into its next evolution and to guide and shape a formal Living
archive or Museum of Women's stories.
The Museum is now officially established with a registered
Board, currently under the Directorship of Coral Bijoux and Chair of Mathabo
Kunene. It is believed to be one of the only registered Women’s Museums in
Africa. The current Conversations
exhibition being hosted by North West University is the curatorial vision of
Coral to broaden the creative, cultural dialogue within and amongst South
African woman and men. This is a travelling exhibition in its third cycle,
adapting to its geographic and cultural environment on each occasion. The
exhibition is accompanied by a strong educational component.
Conversations can be
viewed at Northwest University Gallery at the University of Potchefstroom
campus until July 17. For more information visit info.amazwi.voicesofwomen@gmail.com
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