The Female Under the Skin

November 30, 2024 - January 18, 2025

15 Hulbert Road, New Centre, Johannesburg, 2001

Thando Zethembe's latest collection, The Female Under the Skin, is a profound exploration of femininity, selfhood, and the histories embedded in the fabrics we wear. Through a combination of fabric and resin, Thando reflects on how fabric serves as both a second skin and a vessel of memory — protecting, concealing, and eventually becoming a testament to our existence. These works are an intimate journey of transformation, engaging with themes of imperfection, resilience, and identity. 

The collection opens with Mfazi uyingwe emabalabala (Woman, you are a Leopard of Many Dots) and unfolds in four additional sets before concluding with a single defining piece. Together, they form a powerful narrative of self-discovery and wholeness.

The collection invites us to confront the coverings we wear and the histories they carry. Through fabric and resin, Thando reclaims discarded materials, transforming them into timeless symbols of identity, while celebrating the resilience of the female body and spirit. Each piece challenges societal ideals, offering instead a vision of imperfection as beauty and strength.

About the Artist

Thando Zethembe is a Johannesburg-based visual artist and production designer. Her work spans art installations, canvas pieces, and film sets, blending fantasy and reality to celebrate feminine narratives. Drawing inspiration from her Zulu heritage, Thando transforms overlooked materials into timeless works of art that speak to the beauty and strength of African women.