#Billie Zangewa

[nicethingsthose]

Midnight Aura (2012) - Billie Zangewa

[arinewman7]

Exquisite Fantasy

Billie Zangewa

Silk tapestry, 2014

[abwwia]

The Artist Profile Archive: Billie Zangewa

Billie Zangewa is the subject of The Artist Profile Archive latest short documentary. Born in Blantyre, Malawi in 1973, the artist Billie Zangewa has gained an international following for the intricate collages she creates with fragments of hand-sewn raw silk.

Billie Zangewa is a half Malawian half South African artist who works on silk fabrics. She lives in Johannesburg. Since 2004, her art has featured in international exhibitions including at the Paris Art Fair at the Grand Palais in Paris. Via Wikipedia

[garethschweitzer]

Billie Zangewa at Louis Vuitton

[mybeingthere]

Billie Zangewa (born in 1973 in Malawi, lives in Johannesburg, South Africa) is a Malawian artist who hand sews silk fabrics to create collage tapestries.

Billie graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts from Rhodes University, South Africa after studying printmaking. Her mother worked in the textiles industry on sewing and embroidery. As a child she witnessed the bond between her mother and other women as they sewed, along with other domestic tasks together, which would influence the themes of motherhood in her work. In her artistic training, she tested several modes of expression, but finally became passionate about the work of silk, both because of her interest in the fabrics, its luminosity and reflective qualities. She indicated that: "Silk has a fabulous quality of reflection but at the same time, I think it is very modern and at the forefront of fashion".

Zangewa's early textile work consisted of the production of patchwork handbags, using scenes taken from the city of Johannesburg. When the artist first started creating the larger-scale collages she is now well known for, she more heavily relied on the usage of text, images with a pop art influence, and, sometimes, effects including embroidery, beads, and mats on the surface of the fabric.

Billie Zangewa works primarily with raw silk offcuts in intricate hand-stitched collages, creating figurative compositions that explore her intersectional identity in the contemporary context and challenge the historical stereotyping, objectification and exploitation of the black female body.

[cosmicanger]

Billie Zangewa

The Little Things, 2024

Hand-stitched silk collage

54 × 51 5/8 in | 137.2 × 131.1 cm

[reclaiming-spaces]

Esther Mahlangu's artistic style and cultural influence make her a unique artist. While it is difficult to find artists who share the exact combination of her distinctive Ndebele-inspired aesthetic and cultural context, there are artists whose work exhibits similarities or resonates with certain aspects of her art. Here are a few artists who explore themes of cultural heritage, vibrant colors, and geometric patterns, which may evoke a sense of affinity with Esther Mahlangu:

Nelson Mukhuba - A South African artist known for his colorful geometric patterns and contemporary interpretations of Venda culture.

Billie Zangewa - A South African artist who incorporates vibrant textiles, storytelling, and personal narratives to explore themes of identity and womanhood.

Firelei Báez - A Dominican-American artist whose work often involves intricate patterns, cultural references, and explorations of identity, memory, and history.

Wangechi Mutu - A Kenyan-American artist who combines collage, painting, and sculpture to explore themes of African identity, femininity, and cultural mythology.

El Anatsui - A Ghanaian sculptor renowned for his large-scale installations made from recycled materials, which resemble vibrant tapestries and evoke the traditions and history of West Africa.

Yinka Shonibare CBE - A British-Nigerian artist known for his use of African fabrics, vibrant colors, and historical references to explore themes of colonialism, globalization, and cultural identity.

While these artists may share certain resonances with Esther Mahlangu's work, it's important to note that each artist has their unique artistic voice and cultural context. They contribute to the rich diversity and ongoing dialogue within the contemporary art world, celebrating and exploring different aspects of cultural heritage, identity, and artistic expression.

[ryleighharvey-fiber]

Artist Selection Post

Sam Gilliam - "Swing", Acrylic and aluminum on canvas. (folding and crumpling canvas that he had soaked in paint), 1969, 303.8 x 720.1 cm, Smithsonian American Art Museum

I am interested in Sam Gilliam because of his innovative use of canvas! The folding and crumpling of the material and soaking it in paint really intrigued me. His ability to transform traditional painting techniques into dynamic three-dimensional forms challenges my understanding of what painting can be. His work pushes the boundaries of painting and creates a sense of movement and spontaneity that feels alive. I love seeing a medium that I am familiar with be transformed into something unique and unconventional, it's very inspiring! “Swing” exemplifies this transformation, the work's scale and vibrancy is very inviting and allows me to engage on an emotional level. I believe his pieces can evoke powerful and connective commentary.

Nick Cave- "Architectural Forest Dimensions variable", Bamboo, wood, wire, plastic beads, acrylic paint, screws, fluorescent lights, color filter gels, and vinyl, 2011

Nick Cave’s work fascinates me due to his ability to create an immersive environment that invites the viewer to navigate a colorful landscape filled with many layers. This is particularly shown in “Architectural Forest,” his use of unconventional materials and the vibrant interplay of light and color not only capture attention but also addresses themes of identity, community and cultural expression. I appreciate how he transforms spaces into an experience so the view is fully immersed into the artwork. This particular detail of his work prompts me to consider my surroundings when making an installation of work and what kind of narrative do those surroundings bring.

Billie Zangewa- In “A Vivid Imagination,” Ms. Billie Zangewa shows herself in her garden, in a bikini, “dreaming of being by the sea.” This is a hand-stitched silk collage, 53.54 x 72.05 in (136 x 138 cm)

I am drawn to Billie Zangewa’s work because of her unique approach to storytelling through textiles. I admire the amount of time and dedication that is put towards her handmade creations.  Her vibrant silk collages explore themes of identity, femininity, and the relationship between nature and one's self. In "A Vivid Imagination," Zangewa portrays herself in a garden, dreaming of the sea. Her ability to weave personal and collective stories through textiles resonates with me, as it reflects the complexities of womanhood and the nature of identity. I admire how she combines traditional craft with contemporary themes, creating a dialogue about heritage and modernity that invites reflection on my own experiences.

Overall, I am eager to explore any of these diverse artistic practices that challenge conventions and our understanding of identity and community. I believe each artist offers a unique perspective that I find very inspiring and I look forward to immersing myself into their works!

[abrahampaakow]

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In embroidery lesson, our task was to visually communicate our narrative using aquafilm as our tool. For the process, I placed a print out picture of a pink and white tall building* over the aquafilm and traced over it with a pencil. I took the picture when I was in Ghana. the building and its colour- pink and white is a metaphor. the building represents Ghana and the pink and white colours represents how vibrant the younger generation are. Because of global socialisation, the colour pink is very much liked with femininity. Most of the younger generation are very much like the pink and white building. We want to be tall, bold and allow our colours-pink and white also known as our personality to standout. Just like how the colour pink can be very controversial depending on the situation, for example, if a boy (younger generation) wears the colour pink, he will be told to take it off and he will be socialised by most likely someone older- the older generation not to wear pink again because pink is for girls. So the pink and white building perfectly visually communicates and represents how the younger generation desperately want to express themselves but their attempts are met with old fashion views from the older generation.

*

I chose black and white thread to represent and visually communicate the older generation and their mindset towards change. I printed out the picture of the building and cut around it. After cutting around it, leaving nothing but just the building itself, I placed the cut out image on aqua-film and traced around it.

Inside the traced image of the building on aqua-film, I used white thread as the base of the building.

To add detail to the house, I used black thread.

Together, the colours black and white represents the older generation. Black and white colours highlights how the older generation lack creativity unlike the pink and white building- younger generation. Their ignorance has cause them to all think the same so when the younger generation attempt to stand out like the pink and white building, the black and white embroided house is a manifestation of how the older generation respond to the attempt. They are old fashioned, barely sympathetic, authoritarian and controlling.

If you look closely, there are two threads sewn through the cut out picture of the pink and white building(younger generation) connecting to the black and white embroided building( older generation)

First of all, Bille Zangewa is the artist that inspired this technique. Her work partially revolves round connecting images and pieces to other pieces and images to visually create her narrative.

My technique is a slight deviation from hers. For her work, she uses a sewing machine to stitch.

ARTSY(2023)BILLY ZANGEWA MALAWIAN,B.1973. https://www.artsy.net/artist/billie-zangewa [Acessed 30 October 2023]

Me on the other hand, I used hand stitching. When I was sewing, I found it slightly challenging because I had to be careful not to rip the paper. Moving forward, next time, I am going to put fabric underneath to make sewing slightly easy.

During the lesson, there was an unexpected fire alarm. Because the evacuation took most of the lesson time, I had to complete some of the work at home and the rest during independent study. Because of this reason, it took longer to complete my work. However, during independent study I was able to practice my sewing skills.

The reason why I decided to use double sided page to visually communicate my narrate was because I was inspired by David Adjaye. He is well known Ghanaian-British architect. His work in Lebanon: Aïshit aims to "integrate two, often conflicting,words". Using two pages of my sketchbook, I visually communicated how two worlds the older generation and the younger generation conceptualise the world around them.The younger generation like to look at the world in colour- pink and white. The older generation like to look at the world in black and white.

Reference: 

Adjaye Associates,2023, Adjaye Associates works, viewed 26 October 2023, https://www.adjaye.com/works/

 

The loose thread coming down from the embroided black and white building foreshadows the longevity of the older generation. If the older generation continues to be stubborn and not change then will fall just like the loose threads hanging off the embroided black and white building.

Over all, I am going use this technique of embroidery to inspire my next work. This time, I will be able to work at a much faster pace.

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I used the same concept and ideas I used for the older generation to visually communicate the younger generation. This time instead of using black and white thread, I used colours like, green, yellow and orange

[chiaraferragniwardrobe]

What: Louis VuittonArtycapucines 2023 Bag by Billie Zangewa (9,200.00€). Where: Instagram - October 24, 2023

Worn with: Giuseppe Di Morabito coat

[abwwia]

Billie Zangewa (born in 1973 in Blantyre, Malawi) is a Malawian artist who hand sews silk fabrics to create collage tapestries, and who now lives in Johannesburg. Since 2004, her art has been featured in international exhibitions including the Paris Art Fair at the Grand Palais in Paris. Zangewa's work is autobiographical and centralizes Black femininity and everyday domesticity and motherhood. She calls this "daily feminism". Her artistic approach is indicative of the artist's expressing resistance to the oppression she faces through self-love.

[cosmicanger]

Billie Zangewa; Cirque d'hiver [Winter Circus], 2007. Embroidered silk, 150.9 x 135.9 cm.

[maralmarr]

Billie Zangewa, The Rebirth of the Black Venus, 2010. Silk tapestry (hand-embroidered silk collage), 135 x 100 cm. Courtesy of Collection Gervanne + Matthias Leridon, © JWWhite/Phocasso.

[mentaltimetraveller]

Billie Zangewa

An Angel at My Bedside, 2020

Hand-stitched silk collage

31.89 x 46.06 inches

81 x 117 cm

[huariqueje]

Return to Innocence   -  Billie Zangewa , 2020.

South African , b. 1973 -

Embroidered silk, 110 x 49 cm   43 5/16 x 19 5/16 in

[abrahampaakow]

Mushroom was my original theme when I first started my narrative, until I changed it to something completely different- Older generation and Younger generation- centred around Africa. Before I changed my mind, Mushrooms would have been about mushrooms and its intricacy.

I would have used primary pictures I took of everything related to mushrooms and ways which mushrooms manifests itself, for example, the different shapes, the sizes, the different textures, smells, tastes, side effects, and even down to the different seasons they grow.

Even though it may look like an attempted effort gone to waste, I still can use fragments of this work i.e Mushroom to inspire my next.

My accumulated secondary pictures were of screenshots I took of ‘glow in the dark mushrooms’. The screenshots were on a David Attenborough documentary on YouTube.

During the first session in embroidery we learnt about pintucks, a folder stitched fabric. In the lesson, I picked up fabrics I can use to best visually communicate my narrative, Mushroom.

The gold fabric with burgundy lines going across it from different directions was chosen because the burgundy lines that runs through the fabric looked like mycelium, a network of “mushrooms” underground. The gold thread that runs through the fabric reminds me of Billie Zangewa’s patchwork. This is because she uses stitches to visually communicate her patchwork art pieces and just like her, I was going to use the gold thread on the fabric and relate it to my narrative to help build a narrative that accurately visually communicates.

I was able to practically incorporate inspiration I got from the way she, again, use stitches to visually communicate her work. The pine green fabric has black stitches running through it from different directions and with different sizes. The black lines are representing mycelium. The reason I chose a black thread is because, mycelium, white, don’t get direct sunlight because it is underground.

The green fabric represents the green field. The pintucks on the fabric represents uneven terrain mushrooms grow on.

On my next transition is going to be based on how I compare, contrast, juxtapose the older generation and younger generation. I will use the pintuck techniques I learnt in embroidery lesson to help better visually communicate my current narrative.

Moving forward, I am going to practice sewing straight lines with my sewing machine to avoid the same mistake I did in the making of the green fabric. I will fully explore other artists like Bisa Butler and how his work can inspire my current narrative.