tue 10/12/2024

Photo Gallery: Figures and Fiction - Contemporary South African Photography, V&A | reviews, news & interviews

Photo Gallery: Figures and Fiction - Contemporary South African Photography, V&A

Photo Gallery: Figures and Fiction - Contemporary South African Photography, V&A

An exhibition of the country's vibrant photographic culture post-apartheid

Jodi Bieber's photographs from her series 'Real Beauty' can feel uncomfortably voyeuristiccourtesy of the artist and Goodman Gallery

It’s been 17 years since apartheid came to an end in South Africa, and the transition to democracy has not been an easy one, for while political systems may change, social attitudes may prove yet more difficult to shift. The Victoria and Albert Museum brings together 17 South African photographers whose work responds to the cultural and social changes their country has undergone. This major survey looks at photography from the last decade: exploring issues of identity across race, gender, class and politics, it provides a vivid snapshot of what it means to be a South African today.

It’s been 17 years since apartheid came to an end in South Africa, and the transition to democracy has not been an easy one, for while political systems may change, social attitudes may prove yet more difficult to shift. The Victoria and Albert Museum brings together 17 South African photographers whose work responds to the cultural and social changes their country has undergone. This major survey looks at photography from the last decade: exploring issues of identity across race, gender, class and politics, it provides a vivid snapshot of what it means to be a South African today.

Graeme Williams injects scenes of ordinary interactions with a vibrant beauty

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