South African Zulu Women Tell Their Stories Through Front's Story Vases
Michael Hines — April 12, 2011 — Art & Design
References: designfront.org & dezeen
Story Vases is the latest project from Swedish collective Front that tells the story of five women living in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The vases are made out of glass and the stories are told using beads threaded onto wires.
According to Front, "Bead craft is an important part of Zulu tradition, not only as a means of expression, but also of communication and telling stories." Each story contains the hopes, dreams and fears of women living in the rural villages of post-apartheid South Africa. Front selected the most powerful sections of each story and the women weaved them onto a wire frame, which later had glass blown into it. Each of these vases will be on display at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi in Milan from April 12th to 17th.
According to Front, "Bead craft is an important part of Zulu tradition, not only as a means of expression, but also of communication and telling stories." Each story contains the hopes, dreams and fears of women living in the rural villages of post-apartheid South Africa. Front selected the most powerful sections of each story and the women weaved them onto a wire frame, which later had glass blown into it. Each of these vases will be on display at Spazio Rosanna Orlandi in Milan from April 12th to 17th.
Trend Themes
1. Bead Craft - Opportunity for businesses to embrace the cultural significance of bead craft as a means of expression and communication.
2. Storytelling Products - Innovation potential exists for companies to create products that share personal stories and narratives through artistic mediums.
3. Cultural Heritage Narratives - Businesses can tap into the rich cultural heritage of different communities to create products that showcase and preserve their narratives.
Industry Implications
1. Arts and Crafts - Disruptive innovation potential in the arts and crafts industry to incorporate storytelling elements, such as bead craft, into traditional and contemporary designs.
2. Home Decor - Opportunity for home decor companies to offer unique, story-telling products that reflect diverse cultural narratives through artistic mediums.
3. Social Impact - Social enterprises and nonprofits can leverage cultural heritage narratives to create products that empower and support marginalized communities.
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