SOUTH AFRICAN contemporary photography

Part 1

29 September - 27 October 2007

Photography played a crucial role in making Apartheid visual to a wider public outside South Africa. This photography was pre-dominantly photo-journalistic in style and portrayed the injustices of the oppressive political system.

Today in the post-apartheid era photography is continuing to play a central role in defining South Africa, now with a written constitution and voting rights for all. The styles of photography may be similar to what we might see in any European magazine or gallery, it is documentary and fine art in approach, but the unique issues facing South Africa give contemporary photography urgency with the possibilities and difficulties of redefining this new nation.

Now there is the need to create different historical narrative that recognises the Apartheid and colonial periods, but also looking forward to a different national identity based on equality for all. Because photography is playing such a central role in defining a national identity it may be that the photography being produced in South Africa today is some of the most exciting you might find anywhere in the world.

For this reason the Hereford Photography Festival will showcase the work of both established and younger South African photographers for the next two Festivals. To coincide with each Festival a one-day conference will be held where invited speakers from South Africa will talk about the conditions of making work in the post-apartheid era.

This will be the first time in the UK that an audience will have the opportunity to view such a wide range of the photography being produced today in South Africa and to meet the photographers who are creating a new vision for their country.

Main Festival sponsor: the Hereford College of Arts