Brings together over 70 artists across diverse media and time periods in South Africa to explore the complexities of mothering. This exhibition challenges, redefines, and expands our understanding of motherhood in a rapidly changing world.
Motherhood is a paradox – tender yet fierce, intimate yet universal, idealised yet diminished. It is often sentimentalised or politicised, yet remains one of the most profound human experiences, shaped by cultural expectations, economic realities and personal struggles.
Through an intersectional lens, artists explore how race, class, sexuality and different identities shape the experience of motherhood. They challenge mainstream narratives, revealing a diverse and intricate tapestry of maternal experiences.
In an era of political instability, economic hardship, and global crises, the act of mothering -whether biological, chosen, or communal – has never been more critical or radical. This exhibition invites audiences to see caregiving as an act of resilience, love as a form of labour, and mothering as a political force that shapes and sustains societies.
From the physical and emotional labour of care to the ways in which political and social upheaval redefine maternal roles, these artworks reveal motherhood as both a site of strength and a battleground of expectation.
In South Africa, historical and contemporary forces – including colonial legacies, the HIV crisis, and persistent gender inequality – have reshaped motherhood beyond traditional family structures. By showcasing a wide range of artistic interpretations, the exhibition becomes a space for reflection, dialogue and resistance.
In the 21st century, as notions of identity, gender, biology and family continue to evolve, Motherhood: Paradox and Duality offers a critical lens through which to examine motherhood – not as a fixed ideal, but as a fluid, dynamic and deeply human experience.
