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Nelisiwe Xaba / Urban Mermaid / 2016

04 June - 04 June 2016

Goodman Gallery Johannesburg 4 June 2016

Nelisiwe Xaba’s The Urban Mermaid takes its inspiration from the mythical creature with a body half-woman and half-fish, known by various names – Mami Wata, Sirene, Mamlambo, Watermeisie, Madame Poisson. The myth of the mermaid appears in different guises in many different cultures and geographical regions, each with its own unique story and characteristics. Xaba recreates these stories in her performance through costume – made of a children’s swimming pool and blue plastic wrap – and sound, a mix of Diamanda Galas. The performance took place at the opening of the exhibition New Revolutions at Goodman Gallery Johannesburg.

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