ONE TAKE GRACE

Over more than a decade, Lindiwe has been documenting the life of actor and domestic worker, Grace Mothiba Bapela, unpacking with her through creative writing, documentary camerawork, audio interviews – and other more spontaneous means – her stories, experiences and reflections over nearly sixty years. Through this deeply intimate personal project, a complex portrait of both the woman and the country has emerged, which has currently taken the form of a creative documentary-in-progress.

But more importantly, it is the process of collaboration that has defined the project, and that has established One Take Grace as the flagship project of Motherbox. The relationship developed by the two women at its core is built on trust, vulnerability and mutual upliftment, and transcends class, cultural, age and industry-determined boundaries in every aspect. Without this authentic centre, none of the artistic outcomes would have been possible, and we recognize this as an important model for all of our work. Within the bounds of this project, we have used our artistic advantages – knowledge of institutions and institutional language, imaginative resourcing, public profiles – to extend beyond the satisfaction of making art, and been able to support Mam’ Grace’s initiative to establish a wellness centre – Legae Lelebotse – in rural Limpopo. Our lives have thus become intertwined through this project and so we see it as fulfilling a direct, ongoing and long term social need and political action as well as a creative one.

This project has been supported over the years by Pro Helvetia Swiss Arts Council in South Africa (ANT Mobility Grant); National Arts Council of South Africa; GPS Grant from Goethe Institut Sudafrika; and the National Arts Festival of South Africa.