Zanele Muholi

3 thoughts on “Zanele Muholi”

• Sounds like a great event!

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• What specifically attracted me to see this exhibition was the photograph used in the advert (it definitely worked for me!).  I was fascinated by the beauty in the blackness of this portrait, the depth and range of shades of black and by the technical skill in producing a photograph of such quality.  When looking initially at the overall image in the advert, in a very small format, I saw a beautiful and elegant woman.  Only later, at the exhibition where the photograph is displayed in a very large format, it became obvious to me that it is more than just a portrait of a woman.  The head dress made of scourers transformed the meaning of the portrait the moment I saw it in the huge format at the exhibition.  This revelation actually made me lough at myself, how easily was I fooled by the small image in the advert at which I looked very superficially!
  Before the visit I read the recommended articles and that helped me a lot to understand Muholi’s work as it deeply relates to her activism as a black, gay, South African woman.  Muholi’s portraits convey very powerful historical, political and environmental messages but I also felt that one, especially women, can relate to some of her portraits on a personal level, taking them beyond Muholi’s activism into more universal sphere. 
  My two favourite photographs, apart from the stunning image used in the advert, were Bester I and Nonhle – Beautiful.
  For me, Bester I has many powerful meanings, from the obvious reference to slavery and exploitation of black people to a more contemporary and very relevant today, gender inequality regardless of the race.  With this in mind this portrait conveys a timeless message.
  I found Nonhle – Beautiful especially saddening.  The look in Muholi’s eyes is sad and helpless, not defiant like in many of her portraits.  The slight tilt to her head is as if she was resigned to her fate of having to please others and to this end she has to change her identity by wearing white accessories.  You do not have to do this to be beautiful, your beauty is in your own body!
  The study visit was a great opportunity to share thoughts and observations with other OCA students.  Thank you John and Stan for organising it and for sharing your experiences as photographers and OCA graduates, it was a pleasure to meet you!

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  • Thanks for coming and providing your perspective on the work Gosia. Really pleased you got something from the day, I know Stan and I did.

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