The annual #ThatsWhatSheSaid Celebratory Dinner, organised by Sematsatsa Library in partnership with iTOO ArtInsure, took place at Villa Arcadia, on August 15, 2024, to honour the artist Mary Sibande. The dinner featured contributions from women-owned businesses like Zamindlela and KGOPelo, which align with the initiative’s mission to amplify women’s voices in the South African art scene. The event was a stunning tribute to Sibande’s impact on contemporary art and a fundraiser for emerging women artists she has mentored.
Mary Sibande, whose contributions to the art world are immeasurable has been a mainstay of the South African art scene for many years, so it is only right to continuously see her getting her flowers. Born in Barberton on the 11th of April 1982, Sibande, who is based in Johannesburg, is known for her work in sculpture, painting, photography, and design, but mostly for her figure Sophie. As she told Stir World in 2020, “The character of Sophie is my alter ego, and she plays out the fantasies of the maternal women in my family.”
The celebratory evening commenced with a warm welcome from Gail Bosch, who gave a brief introduction to iTOO and what they do and even explained the history of the Villa Arcadia building where the Hollard company is based and houses an impressive collection of art. For a time, the building served as a Jewish orphanage before being restored to its original glory. The attendees had the pleasure of being given a tour through the house, and viewing some of the art collections housed in these walls.
Present were esteemed guests such as Nandipha Mntambo, one of last year’s honorees, ever supportive of Sibande’s career. One of the most heartwarming aspects of the night was Lawrence Lemaoana—Sibande’s partner. Not only did he hijack the art tour with his riveting stories of the artists, their work and days gone by, but he shared a special tribute to Sibande after which there was nerrier dry eye in sight. While it was an evening for supporting women, many remarked on Lemaoana’s sustained support of Sibande’s career, acknowledging that the support of men is vital.
The spirited MD & Co-Founder of Your Luxury Africa, Yvonne Schaff, spoke passionately about her publication and its contribution to women’s empowerment. “We really are big proponents of being pan-African, living what it says it does, and really supporting women in every space,” she proclaimed. Schaff spoke about the publication with a sense of excitement about the future. “We’re looking at new multimedia offerings… going into Africa, we’re in Namibia, and we have a show in the Middle East,” she shared.
The room was well lit and the guests were well-fed, perfectly prepared to hear the guest of honour share a word. Eventually, Sibande took the stage, exuding a raw honesty and emotion that resonated deeply with the audience. She began by acknowledging her shortcomings as a speaker, yet her words were profoundly touching. “I just kept on having this word in my head that’s been just playing all over again and again and again. And that word is gratitude,” she said, fitting for an evening filled with heartfelt reflections and appreciation.
“As I look around this room, I see familiar faces, new faces, and a face I’ve seen since 2008,” Mary reminisced. Giving a beautiful shout-out to my friend Edward Tsumele, who was seated to my right, Sibande said “It was so long ago when I was a student doing my third year. At some point, I was like, I don’t know, I’m just studying art, I don’t know if I’ll be an artist or I’ll be a full-time artist. Edward was there, and he asked me, ‘What are these objects that you’re creating?’ That article he wrote gave me the platform to believe I could be a full-time artist.”
Fast forward to the present, Sibande is not only a full-time artist, but one of the most successful ones in the country. On top of that, she is the one giving other artists a platform. She talked about the inception of Occupying the Gallery, an open-studio project and mentorship program she co-founded with Lemaoana. “Occupying the Gallery started from the idea that people opened doors for us, so now it’s our turn to open those doors for others,” Sibande explained.
Throughout the evening, the soft gratitude emanating from Sibande was palpable. “When I was talking to myself earlier, I was like, ‘Ooh, I don’t know what to say.’ And someone said, ‘Thank the man upstairs.’ So, I want to thank him for guiding me through this journey,” she shared. “It’s not just my journey; it’s our journey, encompassing many people’s histories. […] My work is not only about my personal history,” Sibande noted, “but it’s all our histories. Whether you are from Soweto or some other place, we can all relate to this woman, Sophie.”
The event at Villa Arcadia was not only a celebration of Sibande’s achievements and a launchpad for new artists and future initiatives, but it was a sweet gathering of like-minded people coming together to embrace someone they love in various ways. It highlighted the importance of showing appreciation and making an occasion of it. There is no denying that we thankfully exist in a shockingly vibrant artistic community and this dinner was a reminder that we should take every opportunity to celebrate that.
