Melissa Haiden, My mothers wedding dress , Acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 2022

Melissa Haiden graduated from the University of Cape Town in 2009 with an Honours Degree in Theatre and Performance. Her practice is deeply informed by the interplay of opposing forces—navigating the shifting lines between voyeurism and exhibitionism, contentment and chaos, and the private and the public.

Drawing from her background in physical performance, Haiden’s work is interdisciplinary, spanning video, live performance, oils, acrylics, and sketching. Across mediums, she captures emotional tension, embodied memory, and the delicate balance between vulnerability and strength.

My Mother’s Wedding Dress embodies these qualities, its layered acrylic and charcoal surfaces evoking themes of heritage, identity, and the intimate weight of personal history.