Born in Lichfield, England, 1941
Lives in Cape Town, South Africa
Training:
Adv Dip in Fine Art, University of Cape Town
Recent group exhibitions:
1994: 5th Havana Biennal, Cuba
1994: Kunst Heimat Kunst, Graz, Austria
Works:
Annie Silinga (from the series A Few South African Women)
(1982) photo etching/screenprint collage
Rest in Peace Annie Silinga
(1995) wrought iron, plastic, laser prints
Rest in Peace, Annie Silinga (1995) is a continuation of
Sue Williamson's work on women in South Africa. The artist
met Annie Silinga through the Women's Movement for Peace, a
Cape Town human rights organisation, when Silinga addressed
a meeting of the organisation in 1978. The women became
friends, and Williamson made the orginal etched and
screenprinted portrait of Annie Silinga in 1983, as part of
the portfolio A Few South Africans.
Sue Williamson has always been interested in the African
tradition of making art that serves a function, and in
1984, when Annie died, was pleased to be asked by the
Federation of South African Women who were organising the
funeral to print T-shirts and special shirts carrying
Annie's picture and dates for the mourners. The etched
portrait hung above the head of the speakers in the hall at
St Francis in Langa where the funeral took place.
Eleven years later, only a wooden post marked Annie's grave
in the cemetery at Langa. Discussions with Annie's
daughter, Esslina, led Williamson to offer to construct a
grave to honour Annie.
The type of structure Williamson has made is referred to as
a 'cradle', but instead of constructing the piece out of
welded wrought iron rods as is usual, Williamson has cut it
out of steel and added portraits and incidents from Annie's
life. When this exhibition closes, the cradle will return
to mark the place where Annie is buried in Langa graveyard.
A ceremony involving the Silinga family, friends and a
large number of other guests such as Adelaide Tambo and
Albertina Sisulu is planned for February 1996.
The piece was sponsored by the Women's Movement for Peace.