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How We Made It with Xanthe Somers
Discover the making of Xanthe Somers’ vibrant ceramic Fruits of our Forefathers, as the Zimbabwean artist explores themes of post-colonial domesticity, overconsumption, and eco-racism through playfully intricate, politically charged forms.
Join us for an evening with Zimbabwean ceramicist Xanthe Somers (b. 1992), as she takes us inside the making of her work Fruits of our Forefathers — a large-scale vessel now part of the V&A Collection.
Currently based in London, Somers’ practice offers a critical reading of extraction economies and notions of domesticity within post-colonial contexts, with a particular focus on Zimbabwe, the country of her birth. Her vibrant, intricate works are hand-coiled in traditional ways, before being disrupted — punctured, woven, and adorned with meticulously shaped and painted details. Combining play with sharp political commentary, her ceramics speak to overconsumption, women’s work, cheap labour, and the impact of eco-racist practices on the Global South.
In conversation with a V&A East curator, Somers will unpack the process of creating Fruits of our Forefathers — from its inception to its completion — sharing insights into her techniques, influences, and the broader themes that drive her practice.
This event is part of our How We Made It series, spotlighting a single work to reveal the stories of collaboration, experimentation, and problem-solving behind its creation.
