Contemporary Archive Project (CAP) on Bringing Photography Back To The People
Mpumelelo Nyuswa at the [re]present public photography showcase at Blue Lagoon, Durban. Photography by Niamh Walsh-Vorster and Paulo Menezes
From the 28th of April to the 1st of May 2023 Contemporary Archive Project (CAP) Founder Niamh Walsh-Vorster alongside her gifted team of photographers hosted [re]present: a three part public showcase of photography. These public exhibitions were held at Msinsi Inanda Dam, Isithumba Community Development Centre and at eThekwini Beach (Blue Lagoon).
Exhibited works by Mandisa Buthelezi at the Isithumba Community Development Centre. Photography by Paulo Menezes
“The philosophy behind [re]present was founded on creating a project with a specific mandate towards the decentralization of photography’s common trajectory of: Make > Take away [from place of origin] > Present [in galleries, online, print]. Most of this cycle can often take place without the knowledge (or benefit) of the community in which the work was made. The [re]present project prioritizes CAP’s core value of conscientized and ethical practice within photographic and text-based documentary work”, said Paulo Menezes.
A Saturday morning eMahlabathini, uLundi, KwaZulu Natal. Photography by Mandisa Buthelezi
The project in its structure, outdoor nature and choice of locations took photography to areas outside of the main centre of Durban. The works, [re]presented in areas in which they were made, breaks an established mould of ‘taking’ work away from their original locality and into urban gallery spaces and online platforms. The project promotes physical [re]presentation of photographic works and text in locations in which the work was made.
Featured photographers Mandisa Buthelezi (top left), Lindokuhle Ndlovu (top right), Thobani K (bottom left), Paulo Menezes (bottom right) and CAP Founder and photographer Niamh Walsh-Vorster
The works exhibited at the three locations: Msinsi Inanda Dam, Isithumba Community Development Centre and at eThekwini Beach (Blue Lagoon) featured photography by Thobani K, Mandisa Buthelezi, Lindokuhle Ndlovu, Paulo Menezes and Niamh Walsh-Vorster.
[re]present was funded by the Goethe-Institut Project Space (GPS) project grant 2023.
Written by Lex LaFoy