Tiani Chillemi

Jess Olivieri invites you to take part in creating a spectacular parade of 200 costumed characters and a celebratory feast in South Africa, by pre-ordering a limited edition photographic print, hand-made artists’ book, tote bag or poster.

In the middle of South Africa on a hill, where zebras and giraffes roam free, lies a mysterious rock formation known as the White Horse of Bloemfontein. The White Horse by Jess Olivieri celebrates, reconfigures and allows space for the multiple narratives that surround this curiously contested monument, to be embodied and enriched.


THE ARTWORK
200 members of the local community will come together in a fantastical reimagining of the White Horse monument, by participating in a series of workshops and creating elaborate costumes to be worn in a parade, which culminates in a celebratory feast at the foot of the White Horse. The ‘characters’ developed in the workshops will also become subjects of a photographic series; protagonists in a documentary style fictional film and an accompanying storybook style publication.

The artist will choreograph the entire event, with assistance from Gali Maleboeg, who will coordinate the contribution of local community groups such as the VChords Choir and others.



Thanks to Creative Partnerships Australia’s MATCH program, every dollar you preference to this campaign will be matched dollar for dollar provided I reach my campaign target of $3000. The White Horse has been developed through SITUATE Art in Festivals, a project of Salamanca Arts Centre that supports early-career artists to develop experimental artworks of scale for the festival environment. The workshops and performance will take place from 20 June to 12 July as part of the Vrystaat Festival in South Africa.



ABOUT THE WHITE HORSE OF BLOEMFONTEIN
Like the Uffington White Horse in the UK, the exact origins and histories of the Bloemfontein White Horse are disputed. Some believe the sculpture created during the Boer War was a landmark for the British cavalry, whereas others say that the White Horse was created in the image of the horse Thabure, so named - the ‘Destroyer of Enemies’ - which belonged to Chief Lerotholi, a grandson of King Moshoeshoe, the founder of the Basotho nation.

It is also said that every time a couple kisses at Naval Hill the White Horse moves one step forward and on a Saturday night you can hear him galloping.

Thanks to Creative Partnerships Australia’s MATCH program, every dollar you preference to this campaign will be matched dollar for dollar provided I reach my campaign target of $3000.

Your contribution will go directly to the cost of making costumes, hosting the feast and capturing the artwork in photographic and video formats.