Tamlin Blake

I mentioned this exhibition in the post that follows, but then decided that it really does deserve a whole blog post of its own.

I went to Tamlin Blake’s show, Birthright at the Bell Robert’s gallery last evening. The work that really stood out for me was this one called Abundance (Nguni hide), painstakingly made with threaded glass beads on fabric. It’s a truly beautiful object.

For those who don’t know, Ngunis are indigenous African cattle, traditionally bred by the Zulu nation. Their hides are famous for being symmetrical in patterning.To find out more about Ngunis and their meaning in traditional Zulu life, check out Marguerite Poland’s book called The Abundant Herds.