Ricky Stoch

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N º12

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About Work

Today the Shweshwe fabric is synonymous with Black, South African, culture however the fabric was originally brought to the country from Europe in the 1800s. The screen print I have made in response to this fabric aims to ask: When does something become part of a culture? And, how far back in history does one have to go in order for something to be considered authentic? To me, the Shweshwe fabric is the perfect example of the complexity of the debate surrounding cultural appropriation and appreciation.