iZembe (An Axe) by Madoda Fani

Vessel / Abstract Conceptual

Published: 11.02.2022

Selected Finalist at the LOEWE FOUNDATION Craft Prize 2022.

Using locally sourced clay and employing traditional techniques indigenous to Southern Africa including hand-coiling, burnishing and smoke-firing, this vessel forms part of Fani’s iQweqwe series which translates from isiXhosa as ‘crust’. Referencing insect exoskeletons, a recurrent motif in Fani’s work, the vessel’s contours are accentuated by a concentric repetitive pattern and finished with detailed markings and studded protrusions to create a piece that is both timeless and futuristic. After an initial bisque firing, the vessel is smoke-fired to give it a uniform black colour.