In celebration of Women’s month the different departments of the National Museum in Bloemfontein collaborated to curate exhibitions that are on show across three museum venues – the Freshford House Museum, the National Museum and Oliewenhuis Art Museum.
These exhibitions, although having distinctive slants, share similar themes and content, and aim to create fresh and original visual showcases by combining a variety of historical hats with contemporary and classical artworks. This exciting amalgamation of artworks and beautifully made artefacts, curated by three female curators, was mindfully selected from the art collections of the Oliewenhuis Art Museum, Art Bank of South Africa and textiles from the Collections Management and Library Department.
The ‘She wears many hats’ exhibitions, don’t just literally refer to holding or functioning in more than one position or role, but also reflects on intangible human qualities of being – rather than doing or acting. This include being regal, being resilient and being radiant. The artworks and artefacts, representing the female in various ways, shows both the physical and exterior as well as the abstract and inner qualities associated with the female and the feminine.
At Freshford House Museum hats from different eras (1880-1970) along with a small selection of artwork are on show. The artwork and hats were handpicked to celebrate the multifaceted woman but also the beauty and uniqueness of womanhood. The exhibition intends to salute women who effortlessly switch between the various roles they fulfil in society. A woman with many hats symbolises modern women’s refusal to be caged by societal expectations and norms.
The exhibition at Oliewenhuis Art Museum aims to be a pleasurable and inspiring sensory experience, evoking feelings of lightheartedness, playfulness, sweetness, with a touch of melancholy.
Artworks were chosen intuitively by how closely it resonates with, and expresses both physically and ambiently the concept of radiance- females and things and nature being radiant. It is interesting how the concept unfolds – ideologies of feminine radiance are suddenly an encompassing, universal presence, even Mother Nature gifts us with radiance, beauty and energy.
Artworks and artefacts, visually describing and radiating a feminine presence of softness, resilience, strength, beauty, flow and feeling were included to celebrate the lighter side of the feminine.
The exhibition at the National Museum hones in on the amazing ability of women to recover not only quickly but coming back in a healthier way with a better perspective from hardships of life. The resilience to somehow dive deep into themselves to overcome, drive in your own doubt, fear and insecurity, to become unstoppable.
The contemplative artworks selected explore the ways women find and create meaning in their life through identity, community, love and experiencing life.
Freshford House Museum is located at 31 Kellner Street, Westdene, and is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 09:00 and 16:00, Saturdays between 10:00 and 15:00, and closed on Sundays and public holidays. The National Museum is located at 36 Aliwal Street and is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00, Saturdays between 10:00 and 15:00, and closed on Sundays and public holidays.
Oliewenhuis Art Museum is located at 16 Harry Smith Street and is open to the public from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 17:00, and on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays between 09:00 and 16:00.
The exhibitions can be seen until 3 September.
For more information on Oliewenhuis Art Museum contact the Museum at 051 011 0525 (ext 200), 078 968 4300 or oliewen@nasmus.co.za and for more information on Freshford House Museum and the National Museum, Bloemfontein please visit www.nasmus.co.za.
To find out more about the Art Bank of South Africa please visit www.artbanksa.org.
