Ndebele Women Artists

The power and majesty of the Ndebele people of South Africa is
expressed through the photography of Adrienne Walker Hoard. Dr. Hoard's
study of cultural transformation among the women artists of the Ndebele
Nation is brought to life through her images of powerful frozen moments,
the results of years of traveling in the provinces of South Africa,
since it's democratization.

The Ndebele women artists are known for their abstract images and
patterns, both worn as beaded adornment and painted on the walls of
their home compounds. The photographs depict the lifestyle changes, the
economic shifts, the political consciousness, and the power of
initiation as cultural ritual in maintaining life as Ndebele. These
images display several of the day-to-day arenas in which modernization
and "westernization" have played a role in the development of different
aesthetic decisions, and novel social and political choices.

Dr. Hoard is uniquely sensitive to issues of color and form
transformation due to her multi- continent research on visual
similarities in artistic abstraction used by creators within the African
diaspora. Her photographs give voice to these South African
pattern-makers. The images visually express her concerns for the impact
of a "whole world watching," while the Ndebele experience an expressive
cultural evolution.

The courage of these women to stay true to their purpose as creators and
ritual conduits in an indigenous society is the theme of this exhibition,
" Women Warriors: Cultural Guardians of the Ndebele." The beauty, grace
Êand dignity of the Ndebele people and power of their artwork is exposed
Êto each viewer of this collection of twenty-five color and black & white photographs.

View online exhibit

All images and text are the property of Adrienne W. Hoard and may not be reproduced or distributed in any way with out express permission of Adrienne W. Hoard. © Adrienne W. Hoard 2006. All rights reserved.




	The power and majesty of the Ndebele people of South Africa is expressed through the photography of Adrienne Walker Hoard. Dr. Hoard's study of cultural transformation among the women artists of the Ndebele Nation is brought to life through her images of powerful frozen moments, the results of years of traveling in the provinces of South Africa, since it's democratization. The Ndebele women artists are known for their abstract images and patterns, both worn as beaded adornment and painted on the walls of their home compounds. The photographs depict the lifestyle changes, the economic shifts, the political consciousness, and the power of initiation as cultural ritual in maintaining life as Ndebele. These images display several of the day-to-day arenas in which modernization and "westernization" have played a role in the development of different aesthetic decisions, and novel social and political choices. Dr. Hoard is uniquely sensitive to issues of color and form transformation due to her multi- continent research on visual similarities in artistic abstraction used by creators within the African diaspora. Her photographs give voice to these South African pattern-makers. The images visually express her concerns for the impact of a "whole world watching," while the Ndebele experience an expressive cultural evolution. The courage of these women to stay true to their purpose as creators and ritual conduits in an indigenous society is the theme of this exhibition, " Women Warriors: Cultural Guardians of the Ndebele." The beauty, grace Êand dignity of the Ndebele people and power of their artwork is exposed Êto each viewer of this collection of twenty-five color and black & white photographs.
		View online exhibit

All images and text are the property of Adrienne W. Hoard and may not be reproduced or distributed in any way with out express permission of Adrienne W. Hoard. © Adrienne W. Hoard 2006. All rights reserved.