"Little Madeira, Woodstock, 7925” exhibit now on at IZIKO National Gallery Annexe until 4 May

CapeTalk's Pippa Hudson speaks to photographer Leah Hawker and Fatima Robertson, a member of the Madeiran community. 

Listen below:

Hawkers latest show is all about Woodstock, history and culture.

The show is hosted by @izikomuseumssa and you can find it in the National Gallery ANNEXE Building.

The current Cape Town based exhibition of “Little Madeira, Woodstock, 7925” has two interactive installations in it. 

One is a ‘historic wall’ from which these two images are taken.

In front of the wall is a small table with yellow and blue sticky notes - the colours are a direct reference to the Madeiran flag.

Viewers of Madeiran descent are invited to add notes to photographs and documents that they have information about.

Some work also showcases Madeiran traditions such as embroidery.

The show has been extended until the 4 May from 9am to 4pm.  

Email or call Rory Emmett who runs the showcase space to make an appointment to visit the exhibition: remmett@iziko.org.za or call 021 481 3987. 

Hawker will be doing an open artists walkabout on Sunday, 6 April at 10am.

Hawker says the inspiration for this 15-month long project comes from her neighbours' fabulous Christmas lights who are from Madeira.

Robertson says her fisherman dad travelled from Madeira to Nigeria and later called on her mom and siblings to join him via boat where they eventually settled in Woodstock with other Madeirans.

"Word went out, people sent messages to their friends... Some people even brought other people's children with them just to get established in schools... and the parents and other kids followed on... That's how we started living in Woodstock amongst these other Portuguese families."

- Fatima Robertson

Robertson explains that Catholic tradition plays a big part of the Madeiran community with religious traditions like festivals still celebrated in Cape Town in the same way it's celebrated in Madeira. 

Preparing meals in the same way it's prepared in Madeira like pickled fish over Easter or specific meals over Christmas is also a common practice.

Robertson says she visits the island often.

"Madeira offers a perfect mix of adventure, nature and culture..."

- Fatima Robertson

And, of course, the island's food is highly recommended.

Traditional dishes to try include espetada (skewered meat), milho frito (fried mielie meal), espada (black scabbardfish), bolo do Caco (garlic flatbread).

"Just imagine plastic chairs, plastic tables with the most delicious meals and drinks on the sand overlooking the beach, that's what you get."

- Fatima Robertson

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.