During the month of August, Women’s Day is celebrated Internationally although we dedicate the entire month to reflect on progress made, to call for change, and to celebrate acts of courage and determination by ordinary women, who have played an extraordinary role in the history of their countries and communities.
In a tribute and celebration of the human rights of all women and girls across the globe, the Voices of Women Museum (VoWM) launched their first digital exhibition entitled “There is no silence here”. After eight successful exhibitions in nine years across five provinces, the VoWM was liberated from the physical. This new platform, made possible through funding from MTNSA Foundation, provides the opportunity to express the stories of women in a virtual exhibition space.
“We are entrusted with the histories, hopes, and expectations of so many women. Situating the VoWM online seemed a necessary next step in the life of this living museum and resource, allowing us to reach a much broader audience.”
Coral Bijoux, Curator and Director, VoWM
The virtual exhibition, in a specially designed virtual gallery from Ikonospace, captures conversations had between women of their lives and experiences, in stitched fabric story-cloths.
“Text and textile weave together in a symbolic language conveying messages and stories of lives in forgotten spaces. There will be no silence here. To speak and share a moment in your life in this way is tantamount to power. There will be no forgetting here. All of these conversations, the memories, reflected in image, word, and textile reverberate through these cyber walls asking you to participate, not spectate…to take on the story; the message, and carry it with you, if only for a moment.”
Coral Bijoux, Curator and Director, VoWM
“This project is the culmination of a longstanding partnership with the VoWM. This foray into the digital space solidifies MTN’s ambition to find digital and technological solutions that educate a broad audience on South Africa’s art, culture, and heritage.
Kusile Mtunzi-Hairwadzi, General Manager, MTN SA Foundation
Women’s Day goes beyond one woman, one day, one community, or one nation and for this reason, the virtual exhibition will be live for all to experience till 30 October 2021.
