To heal from violence, this artist is carving a tribute to South African women

Following years of experiencing domestic violence, Andrea Walters is reclaiming her agency through art. “I was married to a very violent man and I suffered psychological, emotional, physical, economic abuse,” she says. “I was lucky to get out.” Her artistry is influenced by her own life experiences, and the numerous women who have been killed by their partners in South Africa. In the first three months of 2022, close to 900 women were murdered in the country. “I thought I was alone in this and only afterwards did I realise how prevalent it is,” Walters says. With her exhibitions, she seeks to honour women’s lives while advocating for safety and freedom.

Walters’ most recent multimedia work, #OverMyDeadBody, opens a doorway for audiences to acknowledge and confront the impact of femicide. “I created this exhibition to pay homage to the women who have been killed by their partners, to make them grievable in a wider sense,” she says. Representing the pervasiveness of gender-based violence, Walters uses a household item that is as ubiquitous. “I started looking for a medium that would reflect South African women, which is a very diverse group, and I hit on Sunlight soap,” she says. On each of 50 soap bars, she has carefully sculpted the mouths of victims of intimate-partner violence. “The mouth is the locus of communication,” Walters says. “It's as individual as a fingerprint.” Her art memorialises women including 18-year-old Gomolemo Legae, who was murdered by her boyfriend, and Chanelle Henning, who was assassinated by a motorcyclist sent by her husband. During the interactive phase of the show, Walter gives the audience a blank bar of soap to carve out their own experience and reflect. She also integrates a death shroud embroidered with the women’s names to pay respect.

“The most healing I have received is out of doing this work, and engaging with other women who have gone through similar experiences,” Walters says. Foregrounding the plight of women in South Africa, she’s not only expressing solidarity, but the need for urgent change. “As far as my message goes, I think it's been incredibly well received,” Walters says.