Material Matters

Needlework made by collectives is a significant contemporary art form in Southern Africa. The outcome of initiatives directed at upgrading the economic position of women, these art works are devised as vehicles through which women can support themselves and, in the case of rural projects, attract capital into communities in which job opportunities are scarce or non-existent. In this detailed and beautifully illustrated book, which also serves as a catalog of a travelling exhibition, a selection of writers explore the fascinating narratives in Weya appliques.