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Six Southern Guild artists in 'Motherhood: Paradox and Duality', a group exhibition at the Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town
24 Apr 2025 (2 min) read
Artists Justine Mahoney, Manyaku Mashilo, Nandipha Mntambo, Zanele Muholi, Zizipho Poswa and Usha Seejarim will all feature in Motherhood: Paradox and Duality, a group exhibition opening on 30 April (until 23 February 2026) at the Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town.
Motherhood is one of the most profound yet paradoxical human experiences - fierce and tender, intimate yet universal, celebrated yet constrained by societal norms. A timely and resonant exploration, Motherhood: Paradox and Duality examines motherhood as both a personal journey and a collective force shaping society. The exhibition, curated by Andrea Lewis, unites over 70 artists across diverse media and time periods to challenge, redefine and expand our understanding of what it means to mother in a rapidly shifting world.
“By presenting motherhood as both a site of strength and a battleground of expectation, Motherhood: Paradox and Duality fosters dialogue, reflection and change. It urges audiences to recognise caregiving as vital labour, acknowledge mothers' burdens, and celebrate the power of nurturing in a world that often undervalues it,” says Lewis.
Spanning centuries, Motherhood: Paradox and Duality showcases works from historical paintings to contemporary pieces. Traditional depictions are juxtaposed with modern interpretations that challenge stereotypes, reclaim narratives and give voice to marginalised maternal experiences.
Mahoney will present two new works, produced specifically for the exhibition: a ceramic sculpture as well as an oil painting. Both are inspired by Nyx, the primordial Greek goddess of the night. Poswa will also show a new ceramic sculpture, a deeply personal tribute to her grandmother, a woman whose presence shaped the artist's life and identity. Mashilo’s latest painting forms part of the ongoing celestial cartography or migration series - Dithapelo tša boMma - which explores associations with journey, home and spirituality. Seejarim’s large-scale sculpture made from grass broom heads speaks to the paradoxes of motherhood, the dual attributes of strength and fragility, visibility and erasure. Mntambo and Muholi will each show pre-existing works, including a 2017 cowhide wall hanging by Mntambo, aptly titled Mother and Child, and a colour self-portrait by Muholi honouring their mother, Bester.
Lewis continues: “Motherhood is not just private - it is a societal cornerstone that influences economies, politics and cultural structures. As South Africa navigates colonial legacies, economic disparities and gender-based violence, this exhibition holds national significance.”
Through an intersectional lens, artists explore how race, class, sexuality and identity shape maternal experiences. The exhibition offers not a singular vision of motherhood, but a rich tapestry acknowledging joy, sacrifice, exhaustion, love and defiance. It challenges traditional family structures, interrogates cultural narratives and reimagines caregiving’s role in shaping our future.