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Tate Modern presents Zanele Muholi
visura blog
Nov 27, 2024
Summary
Experience the powerful work of visual activist Zanele Muholi
Muholi describes themself as a visual activist. From the early 2000s, they have documented and celebrated the lives of South Africa’s Black lesbian, gay, trans, queer and intersex communities.
In the early series Only Half the Picture, Muholi captures moments of love and intimacy as well as intense images alluding to traumatic events – despite the equality promised by South Africa’s 1996 constitution, its LGBTQIA+ community remains a target for violence and prejudice. In Faces and Phases, each participant looks directly at the camera, challenging the viewer to hold their gaze. These images and the accompanying testimonies form a growing archive of a community of people who are risking their lives by living authentically in the face of oppression and discrimination.
Other essential series of works include Brave Beauties, which celebrates empowered non-binary people and trans women, and Being, a series of tender images of couples which challenge stereotypes and taboos. Muholi turns the camera on themself in the ongoing series Somnyama Ngonyama – translated as ‘Hail the Dark Lioness.’ These striking, reflective images explore themes including labour, racism, Eurocentrism, and sexual politics.
The exhibition includes new photographic and sculptural works based on the artist’s 2020-21 show at Tate Modern. The Huo Family Foundation Research is supported by the Hyundai Tate Research Centre: Transnational in Partnership with Hyundai Motor.
The Zanele Muholi Exhibition Supporters Circle, Tate Patrons and Tate Members supported the exhibition in 2020.
(Press Release)
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