Thania Petersen is a multi-disciplinary artist who uses photography, performance and installation to address the intricacies and complexities of her identity in contemporary South Africa. Petersen’s reference points sit largely in Islam and in creating awareness about its religious, cultural and traditional practices.

She attempts to unpack contemporary trends of Islamophobia through her analysis of the continuing impact of colonialism, European and American imperialism, and the increasing influence of right-wing ideologies.

Threads in her work include the history of colonialist imperialism in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as well as the social and cultural impact of westernised consumer culture. Her work is also informed by her Cape Malay heritage, and the practice of Sufi Islamic religious ceremonies.

Petersen studied at Central Saint Martin’s College of Art in London. She has held solo exhibitions at WHATIFTHEWORLD, Cape Town, the AVA, Cape Town and at the Everard Read Gallery, Cape Town. She has participated in numerous group exhibitions both locally and abroad. Petersen is represented in various public and private collections including World Cultures Museum Rotterdam (Netherlands), Smithsonian Museum (Washington DC), Oscar Niemeyer Museum Curitiba (Brazil), The Durban Art Gallery, The IZIKO South African National Gallery, Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), The Kilbourn Collection, The Jochen Zeitz Collection (South Africa), and The Yeojoo City Collection (South Korea).

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IT Version

Thania Petersen è un’artista multidisciplinare che adotta la fotografia, unita alla performance e all’installazione, per indagare e interpretare la complessa ricerca identitaria nel contemporaneo Sudafrica. Le ispirazioni dell’artista affondano nell’Islam e ambiscono a consapevolizzare le pratiche religiose, culturali e tradizionali.

Petersen esamina le tendenze contemporanee dell’islamofobia attraverso una personale analisi sul continuo impatto dell’imperialismo europeo e americano, del colonialismo e della crescente influenza delle ideologie di destra.

Le sue opere indagano inoltre il colonialismo imperialista in Africa, Asia e Medio Oriente e i conseguenti impatti socio culturali del capitalismo globalizzato a stampo occidentale. Nei suoi lavori affiora l’eredità Cape Malayiana e le pratiche cerimoniali tipiche del Sufismo.

Thania Petersen ha studiato presso l’Istituto d’Arte londinese Central Saint Martins. Ha esposto in mostre personali presso le gallerie WHATIFTHEWORLD, l’AVA ed Everard Read Gallery a Città del Capo, e partecipato a esposizioni di gruppo sia locali che all’estero.

L’artista è presente in diverse collezioni pubbliche e private, tra cui il World Cultures Museum di Rotterdam (Paesi Bassi), lo Smithsonian Museum (Washington DC), l’Oscar Niemeyer Museum di Curitiba (Brasile), la Durban Art Gallery, l’IZIKO South African National Gallery, lo Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (MOCAA), la Kilbourn Collection, The Jochen Zeitz Collection (Sudafrica) e The Yeojoo City Collection (Corea del Sud).