Summer Newsletter Concept
In July and August, I'll continue the same summer concept as last year: a shorter newsletter with exhibition tips in Belgium and/or Europe. For paying readers, I'll still be writing in-depth content. The next exclusive newsletter will be online on the 14th of July. For Dutch-speaking readers, I suggest checking out this list for more summer art tips in Belgium
Discover Zanele Muholi at Tate Modern
In May, I visited a stunning contemporary art collection in the heart of Amsterdam with The Art Society, an exclusive club for art collectors. For new readers: I work there as a freelancer. In a room filled with art, I felt the gaze of these portraits piercing deep into me.
The current exhibition at Tate Modern will include at least one of the works I saw in the private collection. This new show builds on the artist’s 2020-21 exhibition at the same institution and features new works produced since then. You can visit it until January 26, 2025.
Zanele Muholi is a renowned South African visual activist and photographer, celebrated for their compelling black-and-white portraits.
Muholi's work is deeply personal and political, focusing on the marginalized experiences of black LGBTQ+ individuals in South Africa. Being non-binary, Zanele prefers the pronouns they/them.
Their photos tell stories of love, loss, and resistance, aiming to confront and challenge societal norms. With the extremely high black-and-white contrasts, Zanele emphasizes their 'blackness,' undermining cliché images of black women and addressing contemporary discussions on stigmatization and stereotyping.
Zanele Muholi used to be a hairdresser and became a photographer thanks to a photography program established by the famous South African photographer David Goldblatt (1948-2018) for young students without financial means. Expressive hairstyles and fashion, or at least attention to clothing and presentation, have remained significant in Muholi's work.
Stunning photos! I bet they were a thrill to see in person.