DURBAN artist, Fiona Kirkwood’s award-winning latest installation, Rain, will be exhibited at the 11th International Fiber Art Biennale: “From Lausanne to Beijing”, curated out of Beijing China.
The installation can be viewed online from Saturday, 16 January, exhibiting alongside some of the most respected global art makers working today.
In December it was announced that Kirkwood had won a silver medal for Rain.
The exhibition attracted 1 000 entries, from 54 countries, of which 313 (119 from China and 194 from other countries) finalists were selected by an international jury consisting of 21 leading artists and academics.
Rain is made out of nylon, beads, steel wool, aluminium and digitally printed polyester and comments on how climate change is affecting rainfall patterns in South Africa and in different parts of the world.
“In this very troubled time of Covid-19, I am so grateful that my artwork is still being appreciated globally,” enthused Kirkwood.
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Fiona lives and works in Durban. She is a pioneer in her field in South Africa and internationally.
She is noted for the cutting-edge manner in which she combines fine art and textiles to create highly textured, multi-media conceptual works.
Fiona’s works reflect her awareness of the spirit of South Africa and the energy and vibrancy of KwaZulu-Natal. Her themes vary from human rights issues during the transition from apartheid to democracy to HIV/AIDS, the environmental issues of pollution, the endangerment of large mammals and climate change, life and death rituals, and her own self-identity influenced by her upbringing in Scotland and her lived experience of 45 years in South Africa.
The underlying message which is central to her work is the desire to protect all forms of life.
Her 2001 work entitled Freedom Coat is currently on exhibition at the Central Museum of Textiles in Lodz, in Poland, and consists of giant beadwork pieces that commemorate the role of Nelson Mandela and other heroes of the South African Struggle for democracy.
Her work has been widely recognised and highly respected internationally, and she has exhibited in 24 countries. She has received international awards and prizes for her work at exhibitions in South Africa, Lithuania, Latvia and China.
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