South Africa : The Story of Afrique du Sud, portraits chromatiques ?”
In 2006, we discovered the work of David Goldblatt at the Rencontres Photographiques d’Arles. It came as a shock. His photographs revealed a different history of South Africa under apartheid, an intimate history that took time to be told outside the country. The heir of Paul Strand and Walker Evans, Goldblatt has never stopped photographing his homeland, with its values, contradictions and contrasts. Blacks, whites, Indians, Métis—all are photographed as equals, which sets it apart from the Manichean vision that has dominated our screens for so long.
Today Goldblatt still lives and works in Johannesburg, where he opened The Market Photo Workshop, a school for disadvantaged youth. Now in his eighties, Goldblatt remains optimistic about the future of his country and the ability of its citizens to work together in a post-apartheid world. It’s a rare thing to see an artist of his stature, and just as rare to see a country portrayed with such depth, subtlety and humanity.
South African galleries were the guests of honor at the 2011 edition of Paris-Photo. Eager to learn more about contemporary South African photography, we met with Zanele Muholi, a black photographer and lesbian activist. A student at the Market Photo Workshop, this young woman uses art to fight for gay rights in her country. Her portraits, mostly in black and white, as in her series Faces & Phases, are magnificent. Documentary photography takes on its full social and human dimension here. With these portraits, Muholi examines gender identity and the approach of a body ignored by society.
This political, social and cultural engagement can also be found in the work of many South African photographers, including Pieter Hugo, Jodi Bieber and Mikhael Subotzky. The South African photo scene is unique and widely recognized internationally. All of its members question raise questions about society and South African identity.
Read the full article on the French version of L’Oeil.
Excerpt :
Pieter Hugo dans ‘Afrique du Sud, portraits chromatiques’ réalisation Nathalie Masduraud et Valérie Urréa, production Axe Sud, coproduction Arte France.
FILM
South Africa, chromatic portraits
Film by Nathalie Masduraud et Valérie Urréa
40 year of History through the eyes of the biggest South African photographers.
With David Goldblatt, Zanele Muholi, Omar Badsha, Paul Weinberg, Cédric Nunn, Lesley Lawson, Santu Mofokeng, Jodi Bieber, Jo Ractliffe et Pieter Hugo.
Une coproduction Axe Sud/ ARTE France.
