Zanele Muholi is most certainly in my book South Africa’s most acclaimed visual activist. “Her work gives public life to a community, its joys, traumas, fights and daily existence.” She is at the forefront,if not the only, photographer documenting the LGBTI community with her focus fixed on hate crimes such as corrective rape. Her work is invaluable.
The exhibition Mo(u)rning will showcase many elements of her work seen for the first time.This will include several photographic series and her multiple award-winning documentary Difficult Love. “She uses the power of visual material, offered by photographs and film, to affirm existing realities and expose truths and the cruel aspects of 21st century South African society where loving can be dangerous. The exhibition opened today and will run until 1 September.
Stevenson Gallery
Buchanan Building, 160 Sir Lowry Road, Woodstock, Cape Town
Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm, Saturday 10am – 1pm
MY OUT IN AFRICA GAY & LESBIAN FILM FESTIVAL PICKS
Firstly I thank Nodi and the rest of the Out In Africa team for always delivering. Happy 19th Birthday! The festival starts tomorrow at Nu Metro Cinemas in Cape Town (V&A Waterfront) and Joburg (Hyde Park) and runs until 5 August.
NUMBER 1: I AM WOMAN
“Meet Funeka Soldaat, intersex community activist and founder of Freegender (movement) who came to Khayelitsha in Cape Town, in search of a better life. What must it have been like to live as an out and proud lesbian thirty years ago, and to have travelled that journey right until today? This soldier, the meaning of her surname, leads the war against hate crimes in the township. She is a mentor and role model to many.
NUMBER 2: CLOUDBURST
Starring Olympia Dukakis (Moonstruck) and Brenda Fricker ( My Left Foot) is a multi-award winning story about an aging lesbian couple who take to the road when one is committed to a nursing home. Vintage butch / femme, potentially heart wrenching.
NUMBER 3: STUD LIFE
This promises to be sheer eye candy. The story of JJ – a young butch and her best gay best friend Seb. Modern day love story witch a kick-ass soundtrack.
TheButchLife 