The apron is on the wall.
A quest for gender balance.
By Nyadzombe Nyampenza
‘’I bet you think this song is about you’’
…So goes a lyric from an old song by Janet Jackson. It's a justified rejoinder. When women speak up, a lot of men feel under attack. The recently opened woman’s exhibition at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe may fall into the same groove. Men better take heed. This is an exhibition about the well-being of a Woman.
Running under the title Balance4Better: Re-designing a Woman’s Space, the show features 29 female artists. This exhibition is a rare opportunity for men to learn from a conversation between sisters. Contemplation on the artworks may dissolve scales from the eyes of a privileged male. Curated by Doreen Sibanda and Valerie Sithole, the exhibition presents a moment for listening without interrupting.
An absorbing installation by Sandra Ndoro is featured in the exhibition. Titled Tales of a Woman, it is made up of a sky blue apron hemmed with white lace. Although tacked neatly against the wall, it comes with nine inch nails! The apron is appended with a litany of symbolic objects that include a fabric flower, cloak, wooden pegs, and letter of solidarity. The letter rallies fellow women with a proclamation, “We will rise together and lift each other up.’’
The apron is the writing on the wall. A generic symbol for domesticity. Under patriarchal traditions men would expect to see the garment worn by a female member of the family. Here there is no mother, wife, sister, or daughter — just the apron hammered against the wall. As Olivia Charamba sings, “Kwangosara machira chete.’’
A statement by the artist pledges to upend occupation and career gender stereotypes. Sandra is defiant that tradition and femininity cannot be contained by a role prescribed to gender. Her installation demonstrates that women can break free from such constraints. Like a bad omen, it heralds a scenario unfolding in many households.
The exhibition is a landmark for 2019. It will sharpen intuition, and calibrate sensitivity among men. It will also give voice to the voiceless amongst women. For the education of future leaders it warrants a student tour, from St Peters Kubatana, to Peterhouse.
[Balance4Better: Re-designing a Woman’s Space is at the Zimbabwe National Gallery until 27 May 2019.]
