2016

SEWING PARADISE; A SISTERHOOD THROUGH SUZANI

http://www.irmastern.co.za/view.asp?ItemID=20&tname=tblComponent2&oname=Exhibitions&pg=exhibitions

SEWING PARADISE“A celebration of the contribution women make to the world through their creative talents. The show will feature Manina Baumann's magnificent collection of hand-embroidered Uzbek suzanis as well as artworks of 20 artists that have been created in response to these Central Asian textiles. Curated by Michael Chandler, the all-female exhibition aims to explore the notion of the inner-garden; a timeless metaphor for a state of ideal beauty and harmony. Just like the walled gardens of Persia, the essence of a Suzani is one of flourishing beauty, harmony and protection. Philosophically, they are an attempt to create a perfect state and space, a return to Eden. The exhibition aimed to share the embroidered versions of Paradise with the onlooker, and to explore the way contemporary female artists respond to these textiles."Exhibiting local and international artists, the show also featured lesser-known works by Irma Stern, who herself was an ardent textile enthusiast and collector.""Sewing Paradise" was very well received and enjoyed by very many Irma Stern museum members and visitors.Information about the exhibition can be found on the Museum's website :Below is the link to the interview with Tasleema Allie of 91.3 FM Voice of the Cape during the July 2016 Suzani exhibitionand also an interview from SAfm radio compiled from interviews and speeches on the opening night.https://iono.fm/e/312645SAfm LIT 24 7 16 suzani.mp3 / 27MB / Interviews at the Opening Night — ***SEWING PARADISE***
“A celebration of the contribution women make to the world through their creative talents. The show will feature Manina Baumann's magnificent collection of hand-embroidered Uzbek suzanis as well as artworks of 20 artists that have been created in response to these Central Asian textiles. Curated by Michael Chandler, the all-female exhibition aims to explore the notion of the inner-garden; a timeless metaphor for a state of ideal beauty and harmony. Just like the walled gardens of Persia, the essence of a Suzani is one of flourishing beauty, harmony and protection. Philosophically, they are an attempt to create a perfect state and space, a return to Eden. The exhibition aimed to share the embroidered versions of Paradise with the onlooker, and to explore the way contemporary female artists respond to these textiles."
Exhibiting local and international artists, the show also featured lesser-known works by Irma Stern, who herself was an ardent textile enthusiast and collector."
**"Sewing Paradise"** was very well received and enjoyed by very many Irma Stern museum members and visitors.
Information about the exhibition can be found on the Museum's website :
Below is the link to the interview with **Tasleema Allie** of **91.3 FM Voice of the Cape** during the July 2016 Suzani exhibition
and also an interview from SAfm radio compiled from interviews and speeches on the opening night.
https://iono.fm/e/312645
SAfm LIT 24 7 16 suzani.mp3 / 27MB / Interviews at the Opening Night

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Some images below of the wonderful women artists who took part in this exhibition. They visited the Suzani Room to choose their inspiration Suzani to dedicate their work for the exhibition to.

Below is a link to “Work in Progress”

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CuH73PXmCPnU5WcO3wRqrmQ2nOvIkjjM_sd8OZBjVrE/edit#slide=id.g146640aedd_0_5