family portraits

I thought it fitting to celebrate World Embroidery day with “What’s love got to do with it (Family Business)” which forms part of my solo exhibition: Family Meeting at MContemporary gallery!

Hannalie Taute What’s love got to do with it (Family business) 84 x 119 cm Photographic print on board, thread and rubber 2021

“Textile reflects our world; embroideries can show the
expressions of our time. Embroidery and textiles can focus
on the social injustices between countries.
By the means of embroidery we can draw attention to the necessity of
engaging in the force of textile in global trade and with it in world peace.
Textiles is a power and let us use embroidery as an inspiration for people to
engage in creativity that leads to a better understanding between countries
and between people.
To embroider is a peaceful occupation. It can be traditional made from a common
remembrance, drawn designs, from a pattern, or from your own imagination. You embroider for joy, beauty, decoration and for the creation of identity.
Stitches can be decorative, beautiful, comforting, repeating, healing, telling, pleasurable, rebellious, caressing and perfect.
People embroider out of joy, as a hobby, professionally, for the bare necessities of
life and as an act of freedom. You embroider together with others or in meditative solitude.
We want to acknowledge embroidery as an act of free creativity, which can lead to
free, creative thoughts and ideas. We want to tie our embroidery threads from the privileged northern hemisphere together with stitches that are sewn by embroidering sisters
and brothers all over the world.
We want to be part of a joyfully creative peace movement.”

The quote above comes from the Manifesto by Skåne Sy-d, a local group of Broderiakademin, the Swedish
Embroiderer’s Guild.

They were also the force behind the initiative of World Embroidery day

“The first World Embroidery Day took place in Vismarlöv, 30th
July 2011. The importance of embroidery must be made known and World Embroidery
Day will spread around the world. Make 30th July a day filled with creativity for the sake
of Peace, Freedom and Equality.” quoted from the Manifesto

Happy World Embroidery day everyone! xxx

We visited my Mother-in-law in celebration of her birthday this past weekend- and here she is with her grandchildren:

At her birthday party one of her friends Tienie Potgieter asked me about my art and current intrests. I told her about my recent work and then she offered me a box full of vintage photographs including Cabinet cards!!

pic.twitter.com/WD63E9CYHR
— Hannalie Taute (@HannalieT) February 21, 2021

I could not believe my luck!

CABINET CARDS: A style of photograph first introduced in 1863 by Windsor & Bridge in London, the cabinet card is a photographic print mounted on card stock. The Cabinet card got its name from its suitability for display in parlors — especially in cabinets — and was a popular medium for family portraits.

So while I am in the process of working through each and every one….finding inspiration, I am also scanning them to create a virtual file- and while I’m at it , I thought I will share a couple with you!