Victory of the Word

Victory of the Word is a fundraising and development platform focused on serving arts-led entities and independent artists. Inspired and driven by the artistic legacy of the Lovedale Press, was founded by curator Anelisa Mangcu and artist Athi-Patra Ruga as a way of exploring ways in which this 200 years-old legacy can be embodied and continued for future generations.

VOWs recent projects include a fundraising platform launched in 2020 for the benefit of the workers of the print house . The Lovedale Heirloom Collection (2021-) a curated series of Lovedale reprints that span its 200 year literary history . And the BODYLAND residency workshops and art exhibitions which took place at the A.V.A. Cape Town and The U.J. Art Gallery in Johannesburg .

BODYLAND is a play on humanity’s need for geographical markers [eg: XhosaLand, Scotland, Switzerland], these are markers that suggest grouping and belonging in relation to the land – its history and ecological wants. It offers the artist, upon establishing [or rejecting] this relationship with land to embody this knowledge through art-making. The artist’s body becomes the site [or even sight] for much contemplation.