Xanthe Somers

Born in 1992 in Harare, Zimbabwe. Xanthe Somers studied Fine Art (Hons) at the University of Cape Town and then progressed into an MA in Postcolonial Culture and Global Policy at Goldsmiths, University of London where she graduated with a high distinction.

Her practice is informed by the politics of aesthetics, and more significantly how the colonial history in Zimbabwe continues to manipulate aesthetic values. Her work as a ceramic sculptor looks at reimagining the everyday and examining the subtle treason of objects. Through a sense of play, bright colours, mocking tone and exaggerated shapes, the artist tries to challenge the prevailing ideas associated with normalcy, beauty and refinement found in everyday, functional objects.

Somers states ' We create utilitarian objects to serve us, but ultimately these object tend to outlive us. These objects are not neutral- they carry within them the ideology in which they were created- and this legacy is not silent- they have an active and persuasive influence on our day-to-day and shape our visual reality.'