As part of the Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) Knowledge Talks series, Cape Town-based ceramic artist Zizipho Poswa recently sat down with academic, writer and cultural theorist Ashraf Jamal to talk about her practice and creative processes, reflect on the influence of women in her work as well as her trajectory in relation to the cultural and historical context of the Eastern Cape. Poswa's sculptures serve as a tribute to the matriarchal and spiritual traditions of Xhosa culture, reflecting her personal journey and honouring the deep roots of African identity.

Click here to listen to ‘Homage Through Clay’.

The Knowledge Talks series features select specialists, professionals, scientists, creatives and academics from across South Africa and the Global South to facilitate discussions around JCAF’s new research theme: Worldmaking. Coined by philosopher Nelson Goodman, the term refers to the ways we collectively make the spaces that we inhabit through symbolic practices.

"Clay is a beautiful and therapeutic medium… With the making, it’s not just healing for others, but it’s also healing for me as an artist." - Zizipho Poswa

Poswa’s work uNa’kaMzingisi (Mzingisi’s Mother) is currently part of JCAF’s group exhibition, Ecospheres, the second in a trilogy of exhibitions exploring this concept of worldmaking. The exhibition runs until 7 December 2024.