GLEICH?!

Ndebele Advancine

Ndebele Advancine is a tribute to the Ndebele women of South Africa, who historically preserved their cultural agency through vibrant, symbolic house paintings. During periods of systemic oppression and forced relocation, these geometric murals functioned as a sophisticated visual language, carrying messages of resistance and maintaining the community’s collective self-respect.

This artistic tradition provides a foundation for the work’s exploration of equality, framed here as a continuous, internal process rather than a static milestone.

Michelle Ringeisen suggests that true equality begins with individual self-knowledge and respect, which in turn fosters a recognition of one’s place within a shared humanity. As captured by the Ubuntu principle, “I am because we are”, the preservation of one’s own dignity is viewed as inseparable from the respect afforded to others.

The iconography within the work translates this heritage into a modern dialogue:
Symbolic Lexicon: The compositions incorporate traditional Ndebele motifs alongside a private, evolved set of symbols to represent principles such as empathy, diversity, and hope.
Processual Symmetry: Much like the mandalas of other cultures, the artwork serves as a site for spontaneous reflection. The use of repeated symmetry reflects the ongoing, rhythmic nature of the struggle for social and personal equality.

Through this synthesis of historical tribute and philosophical inquiry, the work invites a deeper contemplation of how individual identity and communal dignity are fundamentally intertwined.