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DON’T MISS THIS: ILOBOLA, A SOLO EXHIBITION BY CERAMIC ARTIST ZIZIPHO POSWA
commercial in nature. But this
iLobola is on at Southern
obscures the primary purpose
Guild in the Silo District, V&A
of lobola, says Poswa – that of
Waterfront, Cape Town until 1 July.
The exhibition – Poswa’s
of relations between the two
debut solo – includes 10 iconic
families.
sculptures made from hand-coiled
ukwakhiwa kobuhlobo, the building
Lobola also raises questions
clay combined with cast bronze for
about whether it disempowers
the first time. The artist’s work is
and objectifies women, but Poswa
gaining significant international
unapologetically overrides this
attention with a recent acquisition
perception, choosing to celebrate
by the Philadelphia Museum of
both strength and sensuality in her
Art, two years after the Los Angeles
work. The 10 sculptures in iLobola
County Museum of Art (LACMA)
reach up to two metres high – her
bought a pair of sculptures.
biggest yet – each emblazoned
iLobola pays homage to the
with a pair of massive bronze
spiritual offering at the heart of the
horns that pierce the air. Their
ancient African custom of lobola,
voluminous bases take the form of
or bride-wealth: the cow. Whereas
huge conical teardrops, undulating
traditionally the groom’s family
gourds or giant barrels that invite
would gift a certain number of
anthropomorphic associations.
cows to the bride’s family after a
Poswa’s ceramics have attracted
process of negotiation between the
strong interest from international
two parties, in more recent times
collectors and can be found in
the animals are often replaced by
important private and corporate
a monetary payment – leading
collections in South Africa and
the practice to be viewed as more
around the world.
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SILVER DIGEST // AUTUMN 2021
