For the first time in its 20-year history, 15 of the 18 major hand-embroidered tapestries created by the Keiskamma Art Project are being exhibited together in one place.

The ‘Umaf’ Evuka, nje Ngenyanga’ or ‘Dying and Rising, As the Moon Does’ exhibition opened over the Heritage Day weekend and can be viewed at Constitution Hill until March 2023.

It chronicles themes and scenes from South Africa’s socio-political history and the lived experiences of the women weavers from the small town of Hamburg in the Eastern Cape.

Below are just a few reasons to visit this landmark exhibition:

• The Keiskamma Art Project supports communities in the Hamburg area. Since Dr Carol Hofmeyr established the project, 130 local women have been trained in embroidery, allowing them to earn sustainable livelihoods.
• It helps preserve oral history and indigenous culture, and shows how business can join hands with the arts.
• Visiting the exhibition will directly benefit the Keiskamma weavers. A portion of tickets booked through Webtickets or at the visitors’ centre will go directly to supporting the Keiskamma Art Project.
• Visitors can win a Keiskamma creation by taking a selfie or a video with one of the artworks and posting it on social media with the hashtag #HollardKeiskamma, tagging @HollardInsurance (Facebook) or @hollardgram (Instagram).

Hollard is also commissioning a new tapestry from the Keiskamma Art Project and is inviting members of the public to submit ideas for the uniquely South African stories they would like to see told on this embroidered artwork. Ideas can be emailed to Keiskamma@hollard.co.za before January 31, 2023.