Object Details
- Mary Sibande, born 1982, South Africa
- Label Text
- Sophie is a recurring character in the sculptures and photographs of Mary Sibande. Consisting of a mannequin cast from the artist’s body, Sophie wears blue, the color of the fabric typically used for domestics’ uniforms and laborers’ overalls throughout South Africa.
- Here, Sophie is not constrained by her uniform. Beneath her skirts bursts a Cinderella-like gown to reveal the indomitable imagination of a woman otherwise defined by domestic toil and political and economic oppression. Part of a series of sculptures Sibande created to pay tribute to her mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Sophie—Merica represents Sibande’s grandmother, a woman whose work helped make the artist’s international success possible.
- Description
- Life size mannequin fiberglass body cast portrayal of the artist’s grandmother, Merica. Monochromatic black mannequin of standing figure with arms outstretched, wearing a white kerchief on her head and dressed in the blue uniform and white apron of a domestic house worker with the exception that a blue chiffon gown appears to burst from beneath.
- Exhibition History
- Mary Sibande: Blue Purple Red, Frist Art Museum, Nashville, TN, October 8, 2021–January 2, 2022
- African Mosaic: Selections from the Permanent Collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., November 19, 2013–August 12, 2019 (installed August 3, 2017 to November 28, 2018)
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by the Annie Laurie Aitken Endowment
- 2009
- Object number
- 2015-10-1
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Copyright
- © 2009 Mary Sibande
- Type
- Sculpture
- Medium
- Mixed media installation
- Dimensions
- H x Dia. (variable): 188 × 304.8 cm (74 × 120 in.)
- Geography
- South Africa
- See more items in
- National Museum of African Art Collection
- National Museum of African Art
- Topic
- female
- Record ID
- nmafa_2015-10-1
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys78c850b90-6345-458b-ae8f-a953b816cfd4
