Artist explores ‘nature of love in the contemporary world’
A provocative exploration of polyandry and marriage equality in South Africa raised some eyebrows during a performance on the opening night of the exhibition, Love Unbound, by artist Freya Willemoes-Wissing, at the Ava Gallery's Long Gallery in Church Street, Cape Town, yesterday, Thursday October 10.
The exhibition runs until Thursday November 21.
The catalogue says: “Love Unbound highlights the ever-evolving nature of love in the contemporary world. This exhibition seeks to foster safe and inclusive dialogue on equal marital rights, focusing on polyandry and feminism. The artist calls existing legal constraints into question, advocating for the recognition of a women’s right to choose multiple husbands in support of diverse family structures. By challenging the norms of monogamy, viewers are invited to reconsider traditional notions of love, partnership, and gender roles.”
Ms Willemoes-Wissing said the whole idea of the show was about humanity and human rights for all, regardless of religion, race and age.
She said a conversation with a friend 15 years ago raised the topic of polyandry, where a woman marries two or more men at the same time, and how there are no equal rights on this issue as men, for religious and traditional reasons, can marry more than two wives, but women cannot do this legally.
“Our Constitutional law says we have equal rights, but our then president could have seven wives, why can't I have six husbands? I am not trying to convince anyone what is right or wrong. I am just saying if men can, women can,” said Ms Willemoes-Wissing.
“I know a handful of people that are in polyandry, they are not legally married but would love to marry their boyfriends,” said Ms Willemoes-Wissing.
She said she thinks that in polyandry there could be lower incidents of domestic abuse towards women, as the other husbands would be able to protect their wife. She said there might be a good outcome in polyandry if it could be made legal and we give it a chance.
However, their must be equality on the matter for men and women.
