Studio Visit with Nikiwe Dlova | 'The Thread That Binds' Exhibition

Studio visit with Nikiwe Dlova for 'The Thread That Binds': a group exhibition in celebration of International Women's Month featuring four artists from Nigeria and South Africa.

The Thread That Binds, features works by Chinwendu Kelechi, Nikiwe Dlova, Stephanie Unaeze and Wanger Ayu, in a stunningly diverse showing and understanding of materiality. This exhibition aims to recontextualize historical narratives and examine them with a lens that is current while still maintaining the integrity and authenticity of the past. It is also a way to objectively examine our cultural history to see what aspects of it have served and continue to serve us well, especially where African women are concerned, so that we do not continue to repeat and perpetuate certain damaging historical cycles.

Nikiwe Dlova (b. 1997) is a multi-disciplinary Hair artist from Diepkloof in South Africa. She has made hair her canvas through creative hairstyles, headpieces, and artwork using synthetic hair extensions, wool, fabric, and beads (amongst others). Nikiwe has a Diploma in Clothing Management from the University of Johannesburg, her love for fashion weaved itself through her textile hair artistry to tell visual African stories using hair as a symbol/language.

She has participated in group exhibitions such as Creatress - A Woman or Goddess that creates, Mashumi Art Projects, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2022, and her first solo exhibition The Royal Hair Salon, Botho Project Space, Cape Town, South Africa 2021.