Ceramic artist Zizipho Poswa will take part in the Joburg Contemporary Art Foundation (JCAF) Knowledge Talks, a new series of one-on-one live conversations and podcasts aimed at providing insight into the foundation’s programme and research.

Poswa’s talk is titled ‘Homage Through Clay’ (10 October) and will see her reflecting on the influence other women had on her early artistic development. She will share her trajectory in relation to the cultural and historical context of the Eastern Cape, and explore the symbolism of ceramics as vessels, relating them to motherhood and traditional Xhosa customs. 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.

The Knowledge Talks series will feature 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. 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 conversations will be moderated by members of the JCAF team and will foster the creation of a ‘knowledge community’: a diverse group of enthusiasts who actively engage with JCAF's programming and who also bring a diverse body of knowledge and experiences to the institution. Embodying the ethos of Joaquin Torres García’s School of the South, these talks will expand on interdisciplinary knowledge in the South. They will also be recorded separately and available in podcast format for free on various streaming platforms. These are led by art-critic Ashraf Jamal and recorded in the Foundation’s Reading Room.

Poswa's podcast is due for release on 25 October.

Subscribe to JACF’s mailing list to receive the email invitations announcing each month’s conversation. Note: the live events have limited capacity so booking is essential.