An exhibition entitled Inequality: A Different Picture, featuring poignant photo essays by three visual artists, will be hosted at the UJ Art Gallery from 26 February to 18 March 2020. Questioning pervasive stereotypes about ‘township’ youth, black fathers, and women’s abilities, the trio of photographers aimed to portray how three Cape Town based individuals have confronted various forms of inequality to realise their passions, sustain themselves and their families, and ultimately bring change in their communities.
The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) spearheaded this project in line with its mandate to address inequality and social cohesion. Working with award-winning South African photographer Neo Ntsoma, who mentored budding photographers Andiswa Mkosi and Ross Jansen, the resulting photo essays were realised in partnership with Igalelo. This NGO is dedicated to equipping entrepreneurs from underprivileged areas of Cape Town with valuable skills such as marketing, accounting and management, which are essential to build a successful and sustainable business.
Ntsoma, one of the first black women to enrol in photography school in the 1990s, is celebrating her coming of age in her chosen field this year. “I realised that by mentoring fellow photographers, I could empower people and multiply their potential. Now that I have some wisdom and experience under my belt, I feel even more obliged to guide other photographers to grow and succeed in this competitive industry”, she says
Ntsoma, Mkosi and Jansen edited their images of inspiring entrepreneurs to tell a coherent story that can be shared widely on various platforms. Mkosi, a self –taught photographer, lyricist and performing artist considers photography a privilege. “It gives us the chance to see “chapters” in people’s lives that we would not otherwise see. As a young black photographer, I am able to change perspectives and challenge stereotypes by telling the true narratives and rewriting those that have been told wrong by outsiders’.
Ross Jansen, considered a well-rounded photographer with an eye for detail and composition, finds it important to “…disseminate local stories and steer clear of portraying stereotypes. Cape Town is full of untold stories. I don’t need to be elsewhere to capture great moments – they are all around us”.
Walkabouts will be hosted on Saturday 29 February and 14 March 2020 from 10:30
DATES: 26 February – 18 March 2020
TITLE: Inequality: A Different Picture
ARTISTS: Neo Ntsoma, Andiswa Mkosi and Ross Jansen
GALLERY HRS: Mon– Fri: 09:00 – 16:00
Closed weekends and public holidays
LOCATION: APK Campus, Cor. Kingsway/University Rd, Auckland Park
CONTACT: UJ Art Gallery: 011 559 2099 aedempsey@uj.ac.za
ABOUT THE FACULTY OF FINE ART, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
The Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA) offers under- and postgraduate programmes in eight creative disciplines: Architecture, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Interior Design, Jewellery Design & Manufacture, Multimedia Design, and Visual Art. The Faculty has a strong focus on sustainability and relevance, and engages actively with the dynamism, creativity and diversity of Johannesburg in imagining new approaches to art and design education. Equipped with state-of-the art, custom-built facilities, the Faculty is staffed by highly regarded academics, artists and designers.
ABOUT UJ ARTS & CULTURE
UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture, produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts. For regular updates follow @UJArtsCentre on Twitter or visit www.uj.ac.za/arts
ABOUT THE AFD
Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is the French public development bank that addresses the challenges of climate change and social cohesion at the core of its work. Through its network of 85 agencies, AFD operates in 108 countries, where it is currently financing, monitoring and supporting over 2,500 development projects. It also participates in the public policy dialogue and raises awareness of development and international solidarity issues. AFD has been active in South Africa since 1994.
ABOUT IGALELO
IGALELO is a South African non-profit company that designs and runs entrepreneurship programs to help aspiring entrepreneurs turning their creativity and talents into sustainable income. IGALELO is part of the INCO network, a global network of impactful start-ups.