Esther Mahlangu's Early Memories Documented with AI: Memory of Beading (2024-02)
The collaboration resulted in a collection of poignant images and videos, each representing a cherished story from Esther Mahlangu’s childhood. These visuals now contribute to her official archive and retrospective, offering a glimpse into the world that made her.
An artist in the making
Dr. Mahlangu's creative spirit was evident from a young age. She recalls being fascinated by the umgwalo (traditional Ndebele wall paintings) created by the women in her family, secretly practicing with a chicken feather and a mixture of cow dung and black soil.
Memories of painting
Another memory captures her early eye for beauty. She would watch her mother sweep away leftover beads at the end of the day. "When they threw the beads away, I would take a broomstick and pick them all up," she shared. These found treasures became her first pieces of jewellery.
Memories of beadwork
An entrance to the past
Seeing these moments brought to life was an emotional experience for Dr. Mahlangu and her family. Her granddaughter, Bettie Mahlangu, reflected on the project's impact: "That was a time where there were no cameras and this project gave Esther an entrance to the past." For Dr. Mahlangu, seeing the images sparked joy and recognition. Looking at a picture of her younger self painting, she smiled and exclaimed, "I know her!"
Portrait of Mahlangu taken during visit to her homestead during the build up to "Then I Knew I Was Good at Painting: Esther Mahlangu, A Retrospective" (2023)Art of Contemporary Africa
This project demonstrates the potential of technology to not only document but also to reconnect individuals with their own history. As curator Dr. Nontobeko Ntombela notes, it offers "the possibility of imagining repair to a history that was so violently overlooked."
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