Janine Davidson
b. 1974, Ireland
This piece is part of an ongoing body of work in response to my residency in Johannesburg, South Africa. South Africa has not yet fully emerged from the shadows of violence. As a result, Johannesburg is a very challenging city to negotiate. These pieces refer to the huge car culture inherent in South African society. They deal with themes of navigation and repeated journeys. The tactile and often delicate nature of the work represents the fragility of existence in Johannesburg. Embroidery is also a major element of South African culture, both as a craft used to create income and as a means of recording stories of people and the past.
This particular piece has great resonance for my personal practice as it was first conceived at the Artist’s Proof Studios, which was devastated by a fire. Tragically, a fellow artist, Nhlanlha Xaba, died in the blaze. The main impetus behind my work is to create an accessible visual language that reflects societal and cultural concerns.
(Text: imagine limerick catalogue, 2004)
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