This Character is a Woman
Irene A’mosi
This Character is a Woman is an artistic project exploring the lives and struggles of zungueiras—Angolan women working in the informal street market—who face state violence, police brutality, and economic vulnerability.
Through video, performance, and installation, the project denounces the romanticised image of these women as symbols of resilience, revealing the harsh realities they endure daily.
Central to the work is a performance in which over 100 worn rodilhas—cloth headpieces used to carry goods—are exchanged for new ones in acts of sorority and solidarity. The old radishes are transformed into art objects, preserving the stories of their owners, many of whom have suffered or been silenced by systemic violence.
The exhibition features a striking 20kg dress made from these rodilhas, embodying both beauty and burden. This piece challenges notions of glamour while symbolising the literal and emotional weight these women carry. That Character is a Woman is a tribute to their strength, visibility, and resistance.
Through video, performance, and installation, the project denounces the romanticised image of these women as symbols of resilience, revealing the harsh realities they endure daily.
Central to the work is a performance in which over 100 worn rodilhas—cloth headpieces used to carry goods—are exchanged for new ones in acts of sorority and solidarity. The old radishes are transformed into art objects, preserving the stories of their owners, many of whom have suffered or been silenced by systemic violence.
The exhibition features a striking 20kg dress made from these rodilhas, embodying both beauty and burden. This piece challenges notions of glamour while symbolising the literal and emotional weight these women carry. That Character is a Woman is a tribute to their strength, visibility, and resistance.
Irene A’mosi
Irene A'mosi is an artist who explores the word as her main means of expression. With work that spans literature, spoken word, cinema and installation, Irene A'mosi delves into everyday issues, revealing subtle details that often escape the observer's perception. Her work seeks to unveil the poetics of the ordinary, transforming the apparently commonplace into a profound reflection on contemporary life.
