Art and Performance
The transformative power of art and activism is woven throughout the Forum this year, including art and performance. Some highlights include:
Craftivist: Nell-Louise Pollock
Nell-Louise’s art activist and craftivist dedicated to using performance art, textile art, and embroidery to confront the issue of gender-based violence. Her work is driven by the desire to raise awareness of the enormity of this problem and to honour the women and children who have lost their lives to male violence.
“For me, art is not just a form of personal expression but a catalyst for social change and a path to collective healing.”
Through the Shine the Light exhibition at SVRI Forum 2024, Nell-Louise is using textile art, and embroidery to speak out against gender-based violence, raise awareness of the enormity of the problem, and honour the women and children who have lost their lives at the hands of violent men.
The WEAVE Collective
Appreciating and recognising the patterns emerging from each of their countries, the ‘Women Engaged Against Violence Everywhere’ WEAVE Collective will be present to learn from each other and co-create knowledge through papers, new theories, documentaries, and art. Go to the SVRI Forum website to find out about the films and artists and start to shape your own programme of events.
Performance Artist: Kim Blanché Adonis
Kim, a Cape Town actress and acting coach, graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA (Hons) in Theatre and Performance, specializing in bilingual acting. Her awards include Best Solo Achievement at ‘US Woordfees, Woordtrofee’, Best Solo Performance at the Independent Theatre Awards and Bronze Standard Bank Ovation award at the National Arts Festival. She has worked in live television, on TV series, feature films and appeared in local and international commercials. Kim has performed at more than 60 schools in South Africa and is passionate about transformation, storytelling, and giving back to her community. She is currently working on 3 one-person shows.
Ballet After Dark
We may even experience on site performances from Ballet After Dark – a USA based a NGO whose mission is to provide arts and cultural programmes, comprehensive education and activities that help Black and Brown girls and youth impacted by sexual violence and various traumas heal their minds and bodies with performing arts, holistic resources and somatic intervention.
Film at SVRI Forum: On the 25th of October, we will host film viewing sessions, followed by facilitated discussions designed to spotlight cinematic work related to gender-based violence. The following four films will be showcased at SVRI Forum.
See the cinema schedule HERE.