iNgqikithi yokuPhica / Weaving Meanings: Telephone Wire Art from South Africa explores the rich history and cultural significance of a uniquely South African art form. This project marks the first major museum exhibition in North America to focus exclusively on the art of telephone wire weaving. It traces the journey of wire as an artistic medium from its emergence as a symbol of social status in the 16th century to the innovative use of recycled telephone wire by Zulu-speaking communities today.
This exhibition is a testament to cultural resilience, ingenuity, and creative expression. As Indigenous Knowledge Experts Muziwandile Hadebe and Ntuthuko Khuzwayo note, “In the face of adversity and resource scarcity, telephone wire artists dared to imagine new possibilities . . . leaving behind a legacy that inspires us to rethink waste, challenge conventions, and celebrate the ingenuity of the human spirit.” Each basket, plate, and sculpture tells a story of heritage, identity, and tradition, embodying the artist’s ability to transform everyday materials into powerful works of art.
The Weatherspoon Art Museum is especially pleased to present this exhibition because it reflects the museum’s commitment to expanding access to original works of art through collaboration, teaching, and learning. Curated by Dr. Elizabeth Perrill, a valued member of the UNC Greensboro art history faculty, the project exemplifies the meaningful partnerships that connect scholarship, students, and the broader community.
¡Ngqikithi yokuPhica / Weaving Meanings: Telephone Wire Art from South Africa was orginiated by the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, New Mexico, with curators Muziwandile Gigaba and Dr. Elizabeth Perrill, a professor of art history at UNC Greensboro. Its tour is organized by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC.