Billie Zangewa - A Rising Star

The latest work of artist Billie Zangewa’s continues to invite viewers into an intimate narrative universe. Told on original silk tapestries, Billie’s stories come to life and reflect her appetite for life and her awareness of the world around her. The cut silk collage and cotton embroidery offer a rich medium and capture intriguing tales. Dossier enjoyed a Q&A with Billie during a recent visit to South Africa for her Stitch by Stitch solo exhibition at Artnova.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Gaborone, Botswana.

Where did you study?
Rhodes University, Grahamstown.

Did you always know/recognise you would be an artist?
From about 9 I was working towards it.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
It changed quite often. From lawyer to fashion designer and finally at 9 it was definitely artist. I wanted to be a lawyer for the power suits and then I decided that I might as well make clothes then, but finally fine art captured my heart.

When did you first begin to work with this medium?
It has been quite a long progression. I started out making silk bags with embroidery. Then I moved to graphic silk cutting on the silk – still doing bags. Then it became the 2D image.

What was the appeal?
The sumptuousness of the surface. I love textures and silk is amazing and versatile.

What was your first piece?
My first 2D piece was “Freedom Road” a cityscape of a street in Fordsburg/Newtown border.

How did people respond initially? And now?
I think that some people liked it and some people were not sure. I hope that more people like it. I really enjoy doing it and I love to share it with others. But the reality is that even if you are Picasso, there are some people who won’t see the value in your work.

What inspires you?
Many, many things; my environment, cinema, design, fashion… the list goes on.

How are you reflected in your current exhibition?
A little bit of travel mainly in Europe, reflecting the fact that I am based there at the moment.

What does being an artist mean to you?
It’s my raison d’etre. I don’t see it as a job but more as a way of life, a kind of destiny.

What is your process of creation?
I start with inspiration of a specific kind and then I take it from there. I like to keep the creative process loose so that things happen instinctively. I have never been the planning type and it works for me.

Is there a common theme/thread in your different pieces, or does each one have a different message?
I start to see now that I have emerging themes. I love dinner situations, cityscapes, beach scenes and tourist scenes fascinate me. It’s like I am a witness recording events.

What has been your greatest challenge?
Trying to keep the works fresh is hard, but I keep trying.

What has been your most rewarding success?
Winning the Gerard Sekoto award was awesome and it opened doors for me. Having a sold-out solo show last year at Afronova was an unexpected but welcome surprise. Making the works is probably the most rewarding - there are always surprises.

What was the best advice you ever received?
To stop loitering and follow my dream.

What is your life philosophy?
To thyself be true.

What do you dream about at night?
Different things. Sometimes I sing in my dream and I wake up singing.

Is there a particular contemporary artist that inspires you?
Its not easy to choose. I love so many artists that this would make a long list. I would love to meet Louise Bourgeois.

Where to from here for you?
I hope many years of doing what I love and learning from the experience.