Lindiwe Matshikiza: “My world is bigger; I think of myself as an artist in Africa as opposed to a South African artist”

Multi-disciplinary artist Lindiwe Matshikiza was selected as one of three curators for Season 3 of The Centre For The Less Good Idea (TCFTLGI) in April 2018. Within the framework of this experimental programme, Lindiwe developed a multi-media version of her script Desert in collaboration with a group of artists and performers from South African and Madagascar. The magical-realism piece revolves around the relationship between a father and daughter exploring themes of loss and grief.

The participation of Malagasy artists Temandrota and Naty Kaly in Desert is the result of a network of connections established over several years through residencies and projects between various artists inside and outside of this production. Meghan Judge, who collaborates as an animator and shadow puppeteer, is also the co-founder of Africa|Nosy Art Echange (ANAE), which has for the past six years been collaborating and facilitating artistic exchange with Is’Art Galerie in Antananarivo, Madagascar. In 2015 Lindiwe was invited by ANAE to participate in La Teinturerie’s Festival d’Art Urbain in Madagascar, where she developed a work in collaboration with Temandrota’s 12 year old son. Pro Helvetia Johannesburg has supported both ANAE and Lindiwe’s engagement with the Malagasy arts network through the ANT Mobility Fund,

Here, in the context of the TCFTLGI collaborative production, Lindiwe reflects on the evolution of this network of artistic connections and collaborations and the impact that residencies in the SADC region have had on her understanding of herself as an artist and her work.