Nelisiwe Nkosi - Threading Violence: Unraveling the Rib

"Threading Violence: Unraveling the Rib"

Photograph Print with Hand-stitched Cotton Thread

Johannesburg, South Africa

Height 30.00 cm

Width 42.00 cm

Artist Nelisiwe Nkosi

Year 2025

This photographic piece, accompanied by intricate hand stitching, visually represents the themes of trauma, resilience, and empowerment found in my poem, "I am my Adam, a Broken Rib Learning to take up space." The hand-stitched rib serves as a powerful symbol, referencing the biblical narrative of Eve's creation from Adam's rib while also highlighting the rib as a primal site of violence. Through the deliberate act of stitching, I explore how societal violence is threaded through our lives, shaping our experiences and perceptions. By reimagining the rib in this context, the piece invites viewers to reflect on the origins of violence and the ongoing struggle for individuals to claim their space and agency in a world marked by systemic oppression. The combination of photography and embroidery creates a textured, layered narrative that underscores the complexities of healing, self-discovery, and resistance.