Making Way – Ruth Simbao 2013
Making Way -Ruth Simbao p16 2013
Making Way -Ruth Simbao p18 2013
Sunday Times 3 May 2015 p7
Space Invader (Expat 1) 2015
Space Invader (Expat 1) 2015 Found plastic weave bags 185 x 120 cm
This is an isometric diagram of a Space Invader, or as it would appear in pixel art. The 3D pixels are also known as voxels.
Controversy sometimes arises over why some people, particularly Westerners, are called expatriates (expats) while others are termed immigrants.
Workshop 37 – Dan Halter Parco Arte Vivente (PAV) Turin, Italy 2014
Mesembryanthemum Space Invader 2014 Delosperma cooperi
Dimensions vary
Mesembryanthemum plants originate from southern Africa and they are seen as an invasive species here in Italy. In planting this variety at the PAV I am introducing an African colony of immigrant vegetation to the European landscape. This mirrors what is happening currently on a human scale, and echoes the history of European colonization in Africa. Who and what dictates whether the movement of people, flora and fauna around the world is invasive or not? Only time will tell if the Mesembryanthemum Space Invader will take over the PAV…
From the exhibition Vegetation as a Political Agent curated by Marco Scotini at PAV
http://atpdiary.com/exhibit/vegetation-as-a-political-agentpav-torino/
One of four finalists in the MTN New Contemporaries at the University of Johannesburg Gallery (see link). This exhibition happened shortly after an outbreak of xenophobic violence that spread through South African townships (see link).
work in progress
work in progress
work in progress
work in progress
Space Invaders 1 and 2 2008
Space Invaders 1 2008 Farming Region map of Zimbabwe hand-woven with the Rhodesian database (see link), coloured thread
82 x 89 cm
The first alien invaders to seize land in the area now known as Zimbabwe were colonial imperialists who became known as Rhodesians.
In the year 2000 in an attempt to rectify this historical imbalance, the Zimbabwean government implemented a fast-track land reform. This involved farm invasions which led to disastrous results for the economy.
Space Invaders 2 2008
Space Invaders 2 2008 Farming Region map of Zimbabwe hand-woven with a Zimbabwean telephone directory from the year 2000, coloured thread
82 x 89 cm
Space Invaders 3 2008
Space Invaders 3 2008 approx. 300 stuffed plastic-weave bags, coloured vinyl. dimensions variable
Space Invaders 3 2008 detail
detail
Space Invaders 3 2008
Space Invaders 3 2008
Space Invader (Johannesburg taxi rank – port of entry) 2010
I have been swapping new plastic-weave bags (some from my MTN New Contemporaries installation) for used ones. These have come from predominantly immigrant traders at various markets in Cape Town and Marabastad in Pretoria. The battered and worn bags tell individual stories, some are beautifully mended and some have travel tags. Each one has its own unique patina.
swapping bags
images by Matthew Partridge
Space Invaders 3 2008
Space Invaders 3 2008 approx. 300 stuffed plastic-weave bags, vinyl
Dimensions variable
