THANDA is a body of work consisting of six interconnected artworks. They are all linked by the same fabrics – thrifted around Cape Town. One was a gift, one used to be a coffee bag, another a curtain. There’s a pillow, and even a napkin from Delta Airlines. The artworks explore and question the relationship between equality and justice in a global context, echoed by the sewn-on fabric tags. Not all the fabrics perform well when stretched across the frame – some struggle, visibly. But all were subjected to the same treatment, the same force, by the artist. Is that an act of love? The title THANDA, which means «love» in many Bantu languages, seems to suggest so. The decision to paint the entire canvas in a washed-out monochrome pink is a humorous reference to the idea of «love» as well. But the artist doesn’t see love as something soft, warm, or fluffy. Quite the opposite, in fact. THANDA is a bold statement that raises its visual voice for love as a radical, transformative force – one of deep care, extended to both men and women - a force our diverse society needs now more than ever.
Thanda 05 by Viviane Herzog
- Technique: oil on recycled textile
- Size: 110cm x 270cm
- Created in 2025
The work is unique, with a collector's value and an original signature.
