About Me
Artist Statement
I am a contemporary conceptual artist (b. Pretoria, South Africa)
and have been residing in the UAE since 1999. With an interest in textiles, I employ traditional handmade techniques to express a feminist identity. I delve into the complexities of diaspora, memory and absence. My growing interest in sustainability is examined through the environment and interpersonal relationships influenced by the transient lifestyle of the UAE. I earned my MFA from the University of South Africa (2019).
I work entirely from a personal perspective, investigating my personal responses to my life, family and the world around me. The confessional nature of my work is evidence of this self-exploration and the belief that experiences are not unique and there is an audience out there that can identify with my experiences. It confirms that I am not alone and there is a sense of kinship and belonging. Working predominantly in textiles and related craft techniques such as embroidery, knitting and macrame, I tend to focus on a feminist stance in my art making.
I connote these traditional techniques with love, nurture, and care – something I learned from my mother and grandmother. Conceptually I tend to deal with absence. As an expat living remote from family, and with a husband that travels frequently for work and having no children of my own, I tend to find a lot of time for self-reflection and attempts to locate myself, investigate my belonging. Coming from a predominantly female family, I am concerned with my heritage and bloodline. As I consider measures of time, I continuously contemplate my existence, legacy and the traces I leave behind. This brings up questions of faith, motherhood, longevity and remembrance.
Using techniques and textiles I learned from my foremothers is a way of connecting: stitching stories and mending relationships. The contemplative opportunity in the autonomous and (sometimes) monotonous techniques lends the perfect time for meditative contemplation.
I do believe that conceptual art should be research-driven. It is imperative to study a subject enough to be able to form a personal view or stance from which to emotionally connect with and translate into a successful artwork. I work in various mediums dictated by the research and the concept. I tend to be drawn to textiles and I believe it is my desire to translate my view from the feminine position. Textiles and related techniques are extremely versatile, and even though thread is expected to be fragile, it is strong and connects/merges almost anything. There can be a beauty in its strength - the world needs more beauty sometimes.
Curriculum Vitae
Curating:
2019 Waves of Change, Rota, Spain
2018 Unisa Master of Visual Arts Graduate exhibition, Unisa Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
2018 World Art Dubai, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE
2017 Woven Identities, NYUAD Project Space, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2013 UNISA Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition, UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
2013 UNISA 3rd Level Selected Visual Arts and Multi Media Student Exhibition, UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
2006 ARTE Artists, Presotto Furniture and Accessories, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE
Solo Exhibitions:
2018 World Art Dubai, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE
2015 World Art Dubai, Dubai World Trade Center, Dubai, UAE
2011 Coffee shop whispers, Coral Beach Resort, Sharjah, UAE
2008 Out of Arabia, Ibis Hotel, Dubai, UAE
2006 Out of Africa, Ibis Hotel, Dubai, UAE
Group:
2024 Ramadan charity exhibition, Capsule Arts, Dubai, UAE.
2024 Ecstasy. Artpoint Gallery, Dubai UAE.
2023 Echoes & Origins. Design Gallery, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE.
2023 Resonating Tides. Women's Pavilion Dubai Expo, Dubai, UAE. Curated by Janet Bellotto.
2022 Abstraction 3, Picasso Gallery, Dubai, UAE.
2022 Painting a better world, UN Sustainable Development Goals, UN Pavilion, Dubai EXPO 2022.
2021 Mangroves from the Water, The Project Space, Deakin University, Waterfront campus, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
2021 The thread that binds us, The Viewing Room Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
2021 The world is too much for us, Alliance Francaise, Dubai, UAE. Curated by Anna Seaman
2020 6th Small sized artwork exhibition [online]. Aria Gallery, Iran.
2020 microMACRO, Fibreworks members exhibition, Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
2020 Wolf tones, XVA Gallery, Bastakiya, Dubai, UAE. Curated by Anna Seaman
2020 The Faces [online]. Artsteps Virtual Gallery.
2019 Waves of Change, Pinea Linea de Costa, Rota, Spain
2018 Press for Progress, International Women's Art Exhibition, ZeeArts, The One & Only Royal Mirage Hotel, Dubai, UAE
2018 Women's Empowerment, Art4You Gallery, Sheraton Beach Hotel, Sharjah, UAE
2017 Woven Identities, with Jeff Scofield, NUYAD Project Space, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2017 Mangroves Festival, Umm Al Quwain Mangroves, UAE
2016 Visions of the Future, Etihad Modern Gallery, Abu Dhabi, UAE March 2016 Mangroves from the Water, Thejamjar Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, UAE 2015 Mangroves from the Water, Umm Al Quwain Fort & Museum, Umm Al Quwain, UAE
2015 Mangroves from the Water, Sharjah Fine Arts Society, Sharjah, UAE October 2015 Mangroves from the Water, Project Space, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2015 Sustainable Art, Abu Dhabi art Hub, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2013 UNISA Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition, UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
2014 UNISA 3rd Level Selected Visual Arts and Multi Medie Student Exhibition, UNISA Art Gallery, Pretoria, South Africa
2012 Group exhibition, Millionaires Business Club, Meydan Hotel, Dubai, UAE
2012 Skywards Dubai International Jazz Festival, Dubai Festival City, UAE
2011 Art Exhibition at International Conference: Animals in Law and Society: Perspectives from Africa and Beyond, Unisa, RSA. Celia de Villiers, Nathani Lüneburg and Ciara Struwig are the curators for this exhibition
2011 Joint Exhibition, Egypt court, Ibn Batuta Mall, Dubai, UAE
2011 Joint exhibition, Kambaa lounge, The Address Hotel, Dubai Marina, UAE
2011 Dubai International Jazz Festival, Dubai Media City, UAE
2010 Dubai International Jazz Festival, Dubai Media City, UAE
2009 Dubai International Jazz Festival, Dubai Media City, UAE
2008 ARTE Art & Photography exhibition, Time Square Mall, Dubai, UAE
2008 Art Oasis, Wafi City, in conjunciton with thejamjar & Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai, UAE
2007 Art & Fashion, Bur Jurman Mall, in conjunction with Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai
2007 Dubai International Jazz Festival, Dubai Media City, UAE
2006 Ideal Home Show, Airport Expo Center, Dubai, UAE
2006 Breast Cancer paint off, with thejamjar, Bur Jurman Mall, Dubai, UAE
2006 Art Oasis, Reef Mall, Deira, in conjunction with Dubai Summer Surprises, Dubai, UAE
2006 ARTE Artists, Mercato Mall in conjunction with Dubai Summer Surprises and Dubai Autism Center, UAE
2006 World of Fashion and Luxury Products, Hyatt Regency, Dubai, UAE
2006 ARTE Artists, Presotto Furniture and Accessories, Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE
2005 Art & Fashion, Jam Jar & Bur Jurman, Dubai, UAE
Juried Shows:
2023 Made in Tashkeel. Tashkeel Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, UAE.
2020 COVID Conversations, Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE
2020 PLASTIC, Tashkeel during SIKKA, AL Bastakiya, Dubai, UAE (postponed due to Covid-19)
2020 PLASTIC, Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE Summer 2019 Made in Tasheel, Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE
2019 PLAY, Tashkeel, Nad Al Sheba, Dubai, UAE
2016 The Big Picture, ProArt Gallery, Dubai, UAE
2015 "Home is where..", Arterie Fine Art Gallery, Naperville, IL, USA
2015 Political Commentary, Linus Gallery, LA, USA [online]
Awards:
2016 First place, ALL Botanical exhibition, Contemporary Art Gallery [online], Maryland, USA
2015 Merit Award, 16th Online Artavita contest [online], Artavita, California, USA
2013 Merit Award UNISA Visual Arts Graduate Exhibition, UNISA Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
2013 Excellence Award- Visual Arts UNISA 3rd Level Selected Visual Arts and Multi Media Student Exhibition, UNISA Gallery, Pretoria, RSA
Residencies and Workshops:
2019 Pinea Linea de Costa, Rota, Spain
2015 Liwa Art Hub residency, Abu Dhabi, UAE
2014 Tasara Weaving center, Beypore, India
Education:
2019 Master of Visual Arts (Cum Laude), University of South Africa
2014 Bachelor of Visual Arts (Honours), University of South Africa (UNISA)
1995 B.Com. Communications, University of Pretoria, RSA
Personal Development:
2016 Seeing Through Photographs, The Museum of Modern Art on Coursera (online)
2014 Art Writing and Journalism Course, Art Radar Asia (online)
Teachings:
2017 Workshop facilitator, Thejamjar Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, UAE
2015 Workshop facilitator, Collage Talent Center, Sharjah Ladies Club, Sharjah, UAE
2013 Private Art tutor, Sharjah, UAE
2013 Workshop Facilitator (part time). thejamjar, Dubai, UAE
2012 Art Facilitator, Little Stars and Seven Oaks British Nurseries, Sharjah, UAE
Media and Press Releases:
Oct 2024 Canvas Rebel {online}
2024 Artists iin Focus, Coffee table book, Magzoid Magazine
Aug 2023 In conversation with Stephanie Neville, Magzoid Magazine.
Sept 2022 Seaman, A. Enter the studio. Hadara Magazine.
19 Jan 2020 Muhammad Yusuf. When obstensible excesses may be essential requirements of life. The Gulf Today [online]
21 Jul 2017 Ramakrishnan, M. From waste to art. Panorama Magazine, The Gulf Today [online]
13 Jul 2017 Kalsi, J. Connections that bind us together. Gulf News [online]
10 Jul 2017 Maxwell, C. NYU exhibitions explores the expat condition. Time Out Abu Dhabi [online]
8 Jul 2017 Amer, H. Rouh Al Ittihad, Emarat TV interview
7 Jul 2017 Abdel Satter,S. Faaliyat Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi Events, Abu Dhabi TV interview
6 Jul 2017 Stafford, A. Matter out of place. Selections Magazine [online]
5 Jul 2017 Kufer, K. Woven Identities exhibition focuses on diversity. The National [online]
Apr 5, 2017 Ponce de Leon, J. Big surprise awaits students of this school. Gulf News newspaper
Mar 6, 2017 Morgan, J. DED, Omniyat to refurbish school in Ajman. Construction Weekly magazine
Jun 2016 Seaman, A. Artist Stephanie Neville on how her textile creations weaves emotions with femininity. The National newspaper
Feb 2016 Stafford, A. Guardians of the mangroves. Selections magazine
Dec 2015 Maqbool. Y. Guardians of the coast. Saffron Society Insider Magazine
Nov 2015 Gilbert, C. Art raises awareness of the UAE mangroves, Madame Magazine,.(p.69-72)
Oct 2015 Seaman, A. Exploring the UAE's coastline with art. The National Newspaper
Jul 2015 Lorche, D. The secrect playlist. Selections magazine
Oct 2013 Morelli, L. Stephanie Neville. Women in Art 278 magazine
Jun 2013 Dullay, S. Interview, African Perspectives: Women transforming Africa, Vol.1, Issue 1. Published by the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute [online]
Dec 2011 Time Out Sharjah magazine interview
May 2011 D'sa, J. Glorious artwork at the Kamba Art Cafe, Dubai. Travel Arabia magazine
May 2011 Ahlan magazine
Jan 2011 Al Ghalib, E. Budding artists painting leopards in Al Ain, The National newspaper interview
Jan 2007 Appearance & Interview on That Woman Show, City 7 TV
Dec 2006 Double Page spread & Interview in Inside Out Magazine
Nov 2006 Interview with Siobhan Leyden on Dubai Eye 103.8 FM
Oct 2006 Half page interview in The Gulf Today newspaper
Various 2006 Inside Out, Gulf News Tabloid, 7 Days, Emarat Al Youm, Evening Post, Connector, Aquarius, OK, The Gulf Today
Various 2005 Dubai Eye 103.8 Fm interviews, Connector, Inside Out, Emirates Home
