23/07/2026
Today’s the day! It’s the opening of Eve Song, an interdisciplinary performance and exhibition project by selected visual multimedia artists and classical vocal performance at the University of Pretoria. The project is centred on Jake Heggie’s song cycle Eve-Song, which reinterprets the biblical figure of Eve through a contemporary, feminist lens and will be performed by Ailyn Nienaber.
Heggie’s work explores Eve as a multifaceted character, woman, mother, lover, child, and sage, highlighting themes of identity, passion, vulnerability, and wisdom.
Claire Lichtenstein and I have collaborated on a beautiful series of work which can be found in the gallery, along with some other wonderful work by all sorts of incredible artists.
There is also a series of workshops for the next few weeks and I’ll be running one of them of the 6th of August if you’re in Pretoria want to join us.
Eve, Eve, must be the sound I made as I was being made.
Eve, Eve, Eve.
Out I came, made up by a couple of men.
Old man made me out of Adam’s rib…
Oh, did he?
God made Adam, God made Adam
God Adam God damn it!
My children are going to know who their mother is.
Eve.
Mad bad Eve the amnesiac, Eve, Eve the nymphomaniac ME!
Was young man Adam completely unconscious, as I was manufactured?
Did he groan and whimper EVE as I slipped out?
Did God mutter EVE as he slapped me into shape?
Did I scream EVE at the inevitable r**e?
Or was EVE the last breath shaped into a sound by my mother’s mouth as I came out?
I was too little to save her or remember anything about her… Eve.
What are they trying to tell me with their stories?
I am allowed no clothing.
I am allowed no shame.
I have nothing to wear by my beautiful hair, my body, may face, and MY NAME.
Eve.
