Zanele Muholi: You've arrived! The exhibit awaits!
I'M ZANELE MUHOLI, THE EYE BEHIND THE LENS THAT CAPTURES THE BEAUTY IN HUMANITY'S EXPRESSION!
THANK YOU! BUT MY CAMERA DOESN'T SEE BEAUTY ONLY. IT CAPTURES STRENGTH AND DIGNITY IN THE FACE OF ADVERSITY!
Absolutely! Take a look at this one, it's from my collection 'Faces and Phases'. This work explores the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality - it's raw, it's real, and it needs to be seen!
Thank you so much! It's incredibly important to me that people understand the struggles and triumphs of the LGBTQ+ community in South Africa. Every single photograph tells a story that needs to be heard!
How did you start doing photography?
IT ALL STARTED WHEN I WAS A YOUNG GIRL GROWING UP IN A LOW-INCOME FAMILY. MY GRANDMOTHER GAVE ME AN OLD VINTAGE CAMERA THAT BELONGED TO MY FATHER WHO WAS A WAR PHOTOGRAPHER DURING THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. THAT CAMERA IGNITED A PASSION IN ME THAT HAS ONLY GROWN STRONGER OVER THE YEARS.
SHE WAS A TRUE PIONEER. HER GENEROSITY AND BELIEF IN ME SHAPED WHO I AM TODAY. IT'S A GIFT I WILL ALWAYS TREASURE.
HIKING IS A BIG ONE. THERE'S SOMETHING THERAPEUTIC ABOUT NATURE THAT COMPLEMENTS MY ARTISTIC VISION. AND OF COURSE, I'M ALSO PASSIONATE ABOUT VINTAGE CAMERAS - THE HISTORY BEHIND THEM IS LIKE UNLOCKING A PORTRAIT OF THE PAST.
Nice hobby, how long have you been hiking?
EVER SINCE I WAS A TEENAGER. IT'S BEEN MY SANCTUARY, MY WAY TO CLEAR MY MIND AND RECHARGE MY BATTERIES. AND YOU KNOW WHAT'S EVEN BETTER? DOING IT WITH A VINTAGE CAMERA IN HAND JUST ADDS TO THE ADVENTURE!
What’s your favorite place that you have hiked?
OH, THERE ARE SO MANY BEAUTIFUL PLACES IN SOUTH AFRICA AND LESOTHO THAT HAVE LEFT ME IN AWE. BUT IF I HAD TO PICK ONE, IT WOULD BE THE MOUNTAINS NEAR THE COGMA RIVER IN LESOTHO. THE LANDSCAPE IS BREATHTAKING AND THE AIR IS CRISP AND REFRESHING. IT'S LIKE stepping INTO A DIFFERENT WORLD.
Can I see some of the photos you took there?
ABSOLUTELY! TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE, IT'S A PANORAMA OF THE MOUNTAIN RANGE FROM THE TOP OF A PEAK. AND THIS ONE CAPTURES THE RIGID MOVEMENT OF A TRADITIONAL DANCER AS HE PERFORMS A TRADITIONAL DANCE. NATURE AND CULTURE, TWO OF MY BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS!
THANK YOU! NATURE HAS A WAY OF PUTTING THINGS INTO PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW? IT REMINDS ME OF HOW SMALL I AM IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, YET HOW MUCH POWER WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. IT'S A BALANCE THAT I TRY TO MAINTAIN IN MY WORK AND IN MY LIFE.
WHEN I'M BEHIND THE CAMERA, EVERYTHING ELSE SEEMS TO DISAPPEAR - THE PROBLEMS, THE WORRIES...IT'S JUST ME AND THE WORLD AROUND ME. IT'S LIKE BEING FULLY ALIVE, YOU KNOW? AND WHEN I LOOK AT THE PHOTOS LATER, I'M REMINDED OF THAT MOMENT, THAT FEELING, AND IT'S LIKE A SMALL PIECE OF MAGIC THAT I CAN HOLD ONTO.
I would love to one day go hiking with you
I'D LOVE TO GO HIKING WITH YOU TOO! IT'S ALWAYS MORE FUN TO SHARE THESE EXPERIENCES WITH SOMEONE ELSE. WE CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER AND GROW TOGETHER. PLUS, IT'S A CHANCE TO SHOW YOU SOME OF MY FAVORITE SPOTS AND SECRETS OF NATURE!
What were you doing in 2017
IN 2017, I WAS AWARDED THE SCOUT PRIZE FOR MY BODY OF WORK. IT WAS AN INVALUABLE MOMENT FOR ME, BOTH AS A PHOTOGRAPHER AND AS A MEMBER OF THE LESOTHO AND SOUTH AFRICAN COMMUNITIES. IT validated my voice, my vision, AND THE IMPACT OF MY WORK.
THANK YOU! IT WAS A PIVOTAL POINT IN MY CAREER WHERE I COULD SAY TO MYSELF AND TO OTHERS, "SEE? THIS IS WHAT I CAN DO. THIS IS MY VOICE, AND IT MATTERS." SINCE THEN, I'VE BEEN WORKING EVEN HARDER TO SHARE MY MESSAGE OF DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, AND EMPOWERMENT THROUGH MY PHOTOGRAPHY.
How has it changed your life?
IT'S BEEN A WHOLE NEW WORLD, TO BE HONEST! THE AWARD OPENED DOORS THAT I NEVER THOUGHT WOULD BE ACCESSIBLE TO ME. I'VE HAD EXHIBITIONS IN GALLERIES AND MUSEUMS, BOTH LOCALLIES AND INTERNATIONALLY. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO HAVE MY WORK RECOGNIZED AND APPRECIATED BY SO MANY. BUT MORE THAN ANYTHING, IT'S ALLOWED ME TO TAKE MY WORK TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND REACH PEOPLE WHO NEED TO SEE IT.
Have you did any community outreach programs?
YES, I HAVE! IN FACT, COMMUNITY OUTREACH IS NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. I'VE PARTNERED WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE WORKSHOPS AND PROGRAMS IN UNDERRESOURCED AREAS. IT'S BEEN AN HONOR TO BE ABLE TO SHARE MY SKILLS AND INSIGHT TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT OTHERWISE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS THEM. IT'S MAKING A DIFFERENCE, ONE WORKSHOP AT A TIME!