BLOEMFONTEIN – The curtain has come down on the exhibition celebrating a woman and her trademark, On the Arm of Every Woman. It officially closed on Sunday 16 November, having been on display in the Oliewenhuis Art Museum in Bloemfontein since August.
This innovative exhibition officially opened on 9 August, coinciding with the celebration of Women’s Month in South Africa. On the Arm of Every Woman, inspired by an exquisite collection of vintage handbags, explored the evolution of female empowerment through handbags and art.
The exhibition featured a thoughtfully curated selection of beautifully crafted artifacts and artworks, overseen by three female curators. This unusual curatorial approach created fresh visual narratives by combining historical handbags with contemporary and classical works of art.
The exhibition employed a dual narrative strategy. The central focus − handbags, ranging from delicate historical reticules to bold contemporary designer statements − demonstrated how this accessory has transcended its practical origins.
Initially reflecting women’s domestic roles, the handbag transformed dramatically in the post-war era, establishing a new relationship between women and their possessions: Power became something to be carried, not merely worn.
Complementing the handbag collection, carefully selected works from the Oliewenhuis Art Museum and Art Bank South Africa’s contemporary collections, explored compelling concepts of female identity and the systematic empowerment of women. Textile collections from the National Museum’s Collections Management and Library Departments were also utilised.
This tri-institutional collaboration thoughtfully addressed broader discussions surrounding domesticity, consumerism, liberation and female agency.
The exhibition takes visitors on a transformative journey, exploring how a simple accessory came to carry the profound weight of identity, independence and social change.
The title reimagines a familiar saying with new significance: A woman no longer needs a man on her arm− she carries the tools, symbols, and truths of her own journey, with the handbag serving as a marker of her success and autonomy.
