Sedireng Mothibatsela, Orapa, 2024
Booth B27
For Art Basel Miami Beach 2024, Rele is delighted to be presenting 3 African female artists -Sedireng Mothibatsela, Peju Alatise, and Yoma Emore who source and incorporate materials from their respective communities and immediate environments. Moving beyond traditional Western materials such as canvas and paper, the artists convey important messages about their communities - girl/women's empowerment, preservation, tradition, and sustainability.
Mothibatsela's ceramic series is inspired by the tradition of pottery making in Botswana and Southern Africa. She uses a variety of clay bodies to explore the characteristics of each, from the grit and strength of terracotta to the smooth elasticity of porcelain and the raw red oxide clay from a farm in northern Botswana. All the pieces are pit-fired which reveals the unpredictable outcomes of the natural process.
Alatise's Butterfly Effect symbolizes the delicate yet profound impact of small actions on the larger world - just as the flap of a butterfly's wings can create ripples that travel far and wide. In the context of this work, it reflects the idea that even the smallest efforts to raise awareness and create change can have a powerful, transformative impact on vulnerable lives.
Emore uses fabric, stitching, and archival imagery to map both physical and emotional journeys. Throughout the series, archival elements - post stamps, travel logos, and handwritten letters -are screen-printed and embroidered onto the fabric, creating a layered dialogue between past and present. The nautical knots framing the works symbolize the enduring emotional connections that tie memory to place, evoking the idea that the journey of remembering is ongoing, ever unfolding.
Mothibatsela's ceramic series is inspired by the tradition of pottery making in Botswana and Southern Africa. She uses a variety of clay bodies to explore the characteristics of each, from the grit and strength of terracotta to the smooth elasticity of porcelain and the raw red oxide clay from a farm in northern Botswana. All the pieces are pit-fired which reveals the unpredictable outcomes of the natural process.
Alatise's Butterfly Effect symbolizes the delicate yet profound impact of small actions on the larger world - just as the flap of a butterfly's wings can create ripples that travel far and wide. In the context of this work, it reflects the idea that even the smallest efforts to raise awareness and create change can have a powerful, transformative impact on vulnerable lives.
Emore uses fabric, stitching, and archival imagery to map both physical and emotional journeys. Throughout the series, archival elements - post stamps, travel logos, and handwritten letters -are screen-printed and embroidered onto the fabric, creating a layered dialogue between past and present. The nautical knots framing the works symbolize the enduring emotional connections that tie memory to place, evoking the idea that the journey of remembering is ongoing, ever unfolding.
