Berry Bickle

Zimbabwe
1959
Bickle has worked with a variety of mediums, including installation, video, ceramics, contemporary dance, and photography. In her work, she explores contemporary histories and archival material, often by working in urban spaces.

Berry Bickle, born in 1959 in Zimbabwe, is a multi-disciplinary artist known for her exploration of postcolonial themes through various mediums, including installation, video, ceramics, contemporary dance, and photography. Educated at the Durban Institute of Technology and Rhodes University in South Africa, Bickle has developed a body of work that critically addresses the region's colonial history, utilizing fragments from both official documents and personal narratives like diary entries, poems, and testimonials. Her art is described as a form of "archaeology" of the present, where everyday materials are transformed into tableaux that provoke discussions on memory, history, and identity. Bickle's approach invites viewers to reflect on the potency and differences between personal and collective senses of memory and history​​.

Bickle's work delves into the history of Zimbabwe using postcolonial theory, focusing on themes such as race, power, memory, exile, psychological violence, and history. Her unique installations often incorporate mixed-media, leveraging the archival as a subject to analyze contemporary histories. After spending fifteen years in Maputo, Bickle recently returned to Zimbabwe, continuing to engage with issues pertinent to both her homeland and broader postcolonial contexts​​.

Her exhibitions, such as "Suite Europa" and "Africa Remix," as well as her participation in various international biennials, underscore her commitment to examining the effects of colonialism and the complexities of African identity through art. Bickle's versatility as an artist is evident in the broad range of materials and techniques she employs, from ceramics to room-sized installations, each contributing to a rich tapestry that offers a nuanced critique of colonial legacies and their ongoing impact​​​​.

Artworks