Unsettled│8 South African photographers 

Reykjavík Museum of Photography

Focusing on the many changes South Africa has undergone since the elections in 1994, the exhibition gives an insight into a unique photographic tradition whose poetic strength and documentary quality are in a class of its own. 

The fusion between social documentary and art is typical of South African photography. During the 1950s photography became an important factor in the formation of social consciousness. Unlike their international colleagues South African photographers had to be careful in their criticism of the political reality. From these circumstances a national genre gradually came into existence concealing its critical agenda in poetic and subtle images. 


A number of themes are evident in the images in the exhibition: Economy, immigration, landscape, spirituality and citizenship. The latter permeating the exhibition as a reflection on the consequences of apartheid. What does it mean to be a citizen? What rights does one have as a citizen? These are still important questions in South Africa. Apartheid was based on the idea of cultural distinction and isolation. Cultural codes such as language, art and class were employed as an effective manifestation of the difference between the races, and for subordination of the black and coloured population in the racial hierarchy. 


South Africa is synonymous with the meeting between white and black, between familiar and strange. Learning to live side by side has been the most overwhelming experience after apartheid. This fundamental human experience is one of the important stories presented in the exhibition. 

Unsettled was originally mounted at the National Museum of Photography in Copenhagen, curated by Mads Damsbo and David Brodie. 



Un­settled│8 South African pho­to­graph­ers

The exhibition marks the tenth anniversary of the introduction of democracy in South Africa.

Unsettled│8 South African photographers