More than 20 pieces of sculptures depicting women in despair because of Gender Based Violence (GBV) are currently on display at the open space and gallery of the Franco-Namibian Cultural Centre (FNCC) until June 26. Pinehas Nakaziko went to see what it offers.
The group exhibition titled Women in Sculpture is being hosted to fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV), a project facilitated by the Art in the House and Sister Namibia. The exhibition opens for public on Monday evening after a two-week sculpture workshop to create sculptures focussing on the positive depictions of women coordinated by Alpheus Mvula and David Amukoto. The sculptors have been working hard at the Camel Stables behind Windhoek High School to make the exhibition possible. Thirteen visual artists participated in the workshop which has culminated in “women in stone”. The aim of the workshop was to create awareness on GBV, as well as to educate the society, to explore and transform the GBV issue into visual images by using stone sculptures as a medium of expression.
Deputy Minister of Gender Affairs and Child Welfare, Lucia Witbooi, opened the exhibition raising her concern over GBV in Namibia. “Women in stone give members of the public that are affected in some way or the other by GBV, a visual display through the arts works produced during the workshop,” says Witbooi adding that the project aims to develop an appreciation and support for visual art in Namibia.
The Ambassador of France in Namibia, Jacqueline Bassa-Mazzoni, says art can translate every feeling and representation. “We can see and feel how these artistic principle was clearly understood: from the stone women were born, women are standing, women are talking: “no more violence”,” says Bassa-Mazzoni. The exhibition is an array of artwork depicting women crying, whose faces have been destroyed, pregnant women in despair as well as that of five women saying no to violence together.
Other artists involved in workshop are Daniel Paul Liberty Lanyondo, Martha Haufiku, Gabriel Kashava, John Nampala, Elia Shiwoohamba, Kirsten Wechslberger, Hage Mukweshandje, Ismael Shivute, Risto Iita and Isay Indongo.