Young photographer brings Thokoza to the world
Sibusiso Bheka is currently showing a selection of his work at the Also Known as Africa art fair in Paris this weekend
Part of an internationally renowned and rich vein of South African fine art documentary photography that includes Peter Magubane, Sanu Mofokeng, Sabelo Mlangeni and David Goldblatt, Bheka’s work documents his township environment by night or at twilight. He composes and lights his images in a way that transforms the banal and poverty-stricken reality of life in a post-apartheid South African township into a surrealist, strangely lit alien environment, full of wonder, pathos and possibility. His work never shies away from the downtrodden nature of his environment. But he uses light and colour, in particular in his framing of subjects and his ability to use the atmospheres which the liminal time of twilight or the mystery of evening light brings, in order to turn Thokoza into an almost mythical set of landscapes.
Bheka’s work is a worthy addition to the South African honours roll of intelligent, considered and insightful fine art documentary photographers that are one of the country’s great contributions to global art.