JOURNEYS IN BEADWORK: THE ART OF THE MFENGU

Beadwork is an important symbol of African heritage and a beautiful form of artistic expression that connects the past with the present, the rural with the urban and the traditional and the contemporary.    It will be celebrated at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Art Museum with an exhibition of traditional beadwork from the Museum’s permanent collection.

This exhibition focuses on the history of Mfengu beadwork and how this artistic tradition connects Mfengu people living in Peddie, a rural district in the Eastern Cape, with the large Mfengu community living in Nelson Mandela Bay.     Two videos were commissioned for this exhibition,   The first was shot on location in Peddie and shares with the viewers, expertise and wisdom of traditional Mfengu beaders.  The second shows what eight Xhosa speaking learners from Nelson Mandela Bay have to say about traditional beadwork and what it means to them today.

The exhibition will open on Wednesday 16 October 2013 at 17:30 for 18:00   All members of the public are invited to attend.  The opening will be accompanied by traditional dance and music performed by Imbumba.    For more information, please telephone the Art Museum on 041 506 2000. Please RSVP by 14 October 2013.

This exhibition originally travelled to the Shipley Art Gallery in North East England in March 2012 under the auspices of a cultural partnership between Nelson Mandela Bay Museums and Tyne & Wear Museums.

The exhibition will be on show until April 2014.