By Nolan Stevens
Since the dawn of democracy, South African art has been deeply entwined with issues of identity, reflecting a long history of suppressed self-expression under apartheid. For many marginalised groups, including people with albinism (PWA), these artistic spaces have often overlooked their presence and experiences. However, artists like Athenkosi Kwinana are working to change that narrative.
Kwinana’s solo exhibition, Ndijongile: Representations of PWA in South African Visual Culture (2004–2024), serves as a platform to explore the representation of the albinotic body over the past two decades.
In addition to showcasing her own work, she has incorporated a group exhibition that features the artistic voices of other artists who share her interest in depicting albinism. This collaborative effort challenges the historical lack of representation of PWA and seeks to broaden the scope of how the albinotic body is portrayed in art and society.
The exhibition includes the work of photographers Andile Bhala, Simphiwe Vilakazi, and Nkanyezi Gumede, along with fashion-focused artist Kamogelo Machaba. Each of these artists has contributed pieces that normalise the presentation of the albinotic body, while also expanding its representation in a naturalistic and realistic way.
Their work provides a nuanced reflection of the albinotic experience, encouraging audiences to consider the ways in which beauty and identity are constructed in South African visual culture.
Additionally, the inclusion of renowned artist Pieter Hugo, who has long engaged with the representation of PWA, brings a further layer of depth to the discussion of the albinotic body in art.
Through this exhibition, Kwinana aims to shed light on how people with albinism have been portrayed in South Africa’s visual culture and to investigate the reasons behind these portrayals. Her goal is to understand what these representations reveal about societal attitudes towards albinism and what they say about the broader context of South African identity.
By juxtaposing the work of PWA artists with that of allies who have also engaged with the albinotic body, she ensures a diversity of perspectives in the ongoing conversation about representation.
This exhibition is a significant contribution to South Africa’s artistic landscape, where issues of identity, beauty, and representation remain at the forefront. Kwinana’s work is a powerful testament to the evolving dialogue around marginalised communities and the role that art can play in challenging conventional norms.
About the Exhibition
Ndijongile is a solo exhibition by Athenkosi Kwinana, whose title translates from Xhosa as ‘I have looked.’ Curated by Candice Berman, the exhibition explores themes of albinism, featuring not only Kwinana’s work but also a group exhibition with contributions from other artists who share her interest in representing this topic.
The exhibition will be held at 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub, Rosebank, and runs from 7 September until 20 October.
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