The new United States Embassy in Ezulwini commissioned work by local artists as part of their Art in Embassies project.
Camille Benton from Art in Embassies says “Established in 1963, Art in Embassies plays a leading role in U.S. public diplomacy with a focused mission of cross-cultural dialogue through the visual arts and dynamic artist exchange. Today, Art in Embassies maintains a presence in more places than any other U.S. foundation or arts organization, engaging over 25,000 participants, including artists, museums, galleries, universities, and private collectors, in over 200 U.S. diplomatic missions in 190 countries. With the construction of the new Embassy in Mbabane, Swaziland, the universal language of art was used in many interesting ways to help connect Swazi and American cultures as Art in Embassies has selected a diverse group of over thirty artworks by renowned and emerging artists from both countries.”
Yebo Art curator, Aleta Armstrong commented; “Yebo’s passion is to promote professional and self-taught local artists and we were honoured to work with Art In Embassies. We met with their curators recently who showed us all the installed work at the U.S Embassy, it looks really beautiful! We hope this inspires other Embassies and corporations to invest in Swazi fine artists and sculptors.”
Ambassador Lisa Peterson commented that “many of the pieces are such great examples of how the art in the Embassy exemplifies our partnership with Swaziland. Bhekani Dlamini’s sculpture includes the national birds of each or our countries. The mosaic was the product of a combined Swazi and American team of artists. “To Everything There is a Season” was created by one of our Mandela Washington Fellows; Khulekani Msweli, and as I walk past it each day I am reminded of the tremendous potential in Swaziland’s youth. Beyond the pieces created by Swazi artists, some of the American artists worked to capture Swazi elements, such as a tapestry that incorporates three of the possible translations of “Siyinqaba.” The art in our embassy is a physical representation of the ways in which our two countries intersect.”
Nanette Gruber, an Embassy employee says “the art in the Embassy is absolutely amazing and the collaboration between Swazi and American artists has brought life inside the embassy building.”
The embassy art includes a remarkable mosaic mural on the wall outside of the Embassy, where it greets visitors as they walk into the embassy building, leaving a lasting reminder of the partnership and friendship between the U.S. and Swaziland. Herb Hundt, another embassy employee, noted “the other pieces are nice, what really stands out especially to newcomers on the embassy grounds, is the mosaic.” The giant mosaic mural was created by American Fulbright grantee Mari Gardner who was in Swaziland doing research. She collaborated with Yebo! ArtReach artists Thabo Lukhele, Fela Dlamini and Dane Armstrong, to create this mosaic made from colourfully stained, vitreous tiles. The mural stands at nearly three meters high and over twelve meters long. James Lehman, an Embassy employee says “photographs do not do this piece justice.” Lehman adds that the mural was created using thousands of pieces of glass with many special pieces coming from Ngwenya glass factory here in Swaziland. There were a few that had to be shipped in from South Africa. He adds that although the artwork is African, it also reminds him of other art pieces from the American Indian tribes. Embassy staff member Estefani Kraft says “the mosaic wall is gorgeous!! It helps me start my day with a positive attitude since I love colours.” James Lehman also loves the art work by Bhekani Dlamini of an eagle and ligwalagwala balanced on a woman hands. He says this is a great piece of art with clean lines and shape. He remarked that he loves the art by Khulekani Msweli which is very colourful and interesting, and he would love to own one of his pieces.
Khulekani Msweli added “ As a multi-faceted artist and designer, one yearns for more cultural, corporate or private institutions to continue investing in the arts as it is an integral part of human existence, now more than ever before, due to the fast paced changes that we are experiencing globally, the arts offers questions, pleases, amuses, interrogates, protects and at times offers refuge in uncertain times. As the US Embassy has led in art promotion and development it would be a step in the right direction if Swaziland’s embassies would start acquiring and exhibiting local and international art within their institutions.”
Mari Gardner commented on Peter Armstrong’s work “His hadeda installation is striking. The birds fly overhead and appear to be on their way to Execution Rock. The use of space is powerful. It feels as though the interior of the US Embassy has been combined with Swaziland’s natural beauty; a compelling symbolic gesture of unity.”