“Faces and Phases”
Artist: Zanele Muholi February 26 - April 6, 2013 Yancey Richardson Gallery
Curatorial decision
Specification: Community of Practice
Faces and Phases is a portrait series that gracefully captures the portraits of LGBTQ in attempt to strengthen the community through exposure and representation. South African-based artist Zanele Muholi attests to the disturbing hate crimes against gays and lesbians in South Africa.
“In the face of all the challenges our community encounters daily ,I embarked on a journey of visual activism to ensure that there is black queer visibility,” — Muholi.
“In Faces and Phases I present our existence and resistance through positive imagery of black queers (especially lesbians) in South African society and beyond. I show our aesthetics through portraiture. Historically, portraits serve as memorable records for lovers, family and friends.”
“Faces express the person, and Phases signify the transition from one stage of sexuality or gender expression and experience to another. Faces is also about the face-to-face confrontation between myself as the photographer/activist and the many lesbians, women and transmen I have interacted with from different places. Photographs in this series traverse spaces from Gauteng and Cape Town to London and Toronto, and include the townships of Alexandra, Soweto, Vosloorus, Khayelitsha, Gugulethu, Katlehong and Kasigo.”
Muholi has experienced dsicrimination as she also identifies as a black lesbian. He intention with this project was to map and preserve a community that is often deemed as invisible.
EXHIBITIONS
