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  • Skeem’ Saka

An exhibition by Tierney Fellowship recipient, Sipho Gongxeka

2014

Growing up in Soweto, I was continuously surrounded by fashion conscious individuals. To them, clothing was a status symbol that separated “the men” from “the boys”. It signified power and affluence just like the characters I grew up watching on television and in films. TV shows such as Yizo Yizo and Gaz’ Lami and gangster films such as Mapantsula, Jerusalema, Hijack Stories, etc. portrayed characters that were seductive to me. These characters were young people that looked like me and came from the township just like me. The only difference that existed between us is that they embodied style and glamour but at the same time some of the characters were problematic in that they glorified criminality and prejudiced behavior towards women. In this body of work, I photograph i-Skeem’ Saka (slang word meaning a close friend or a ‘homeboy/girl’). I chose this title because it speaks about relationships that go beyond friendships. iSkeem speaks about a shared brotherhood and sistahood especially eKasi (slang word meaning township). These are men and women who identify with our childhood in that we were collectively exposed to the popular images seen in Yizo Yizo, Gaz’ Lami, Mapantsula, Jerusalema, Hijack Stories etc. I photograph male friends mostly because that’s whom I spend the most time with. Sometimes I style them; at times they style themselves. My photographs are self-consciously cinematic, part accident, part choreographed/ performed in order to highlight the relationship between the constructed image and it’s reference to ‘reality’.

About Sipho Gongxela

Sipho Gongxeka was born in in 1989 in Soweto, Johannesburg. Upon completing matric, Sipho developed a passion for photography and fashion. In 2011, he successfully completed the Foundation and Intermediate courses at Market Photo Workshop. In 2012 he continued with his photography studies at the Market Photo Workshop enrolling for the yearlong Advanced Programme in Photography. He has published locally and been exhibited on group exhibitions that include Identikit and Show Us Our Land.

About the Tierney Fellowship

The Tierney Fellowship was created in 2003 by The Tierney Family Foundation to support emerging artists in the field of photography. The primary goal of the Fellowship is to find aspiring artists who will be tomorrow's leaders and to assist them in overcoming challenges that photographers face at the start of their careers. Tracy Edser, the first recipient of The Tierney Fellowship at the Market Photo Workshop, exhibited her body of work in a solo exhibition, Amelioration. Mikhael Subotzky mentored Edser. Simangele Kalisa, the second recipient, exhibited her body of work at a Joint Tierney Exhibition at the Substation Gallery, Wits University, with fellows Monique Pelser and Ariane Questiaux. Jo Ractliffe mentored Kalisa. Thabiso Sekgala(1981-2014), the third recipient, exhibited a body of work entitled Homeland at The Photo Workshop Gallery in April 2011. Mikhael Subotzky also mentored Sekgala. Mack Magagane, the fourth recipient, exhibited his work called ...in this city, a reflection of Johannesburg city by night. The exhibition opened in April 2013 at The Photo Workshop Gallery. Jo Ractliffe also mentored Mack Magagane. Lebohang Kganye, the fifth recipient, exhibited her work Ke lefa laka, a research into her family history using family photographs, testimonies from family members as well as personal narratives. Nontobeko Ntombela and Mary Sibande mentored Kganye. Sipho Gongxeka The sixth recipient, Sipho Gongxeka, was mentored by the renowned South African photographer Pieter Hugo. Sipho’s exhibition, Skeem’ Saka, opened at The Photo Workshop Gallery in July 2014. Skeem’ Saka aims to create a dialogue with the audience on issues relating to masculinity; how men view themselves and the perception society has on the male figure. Sipho Gongxeka is the sixth recipient of the Tierney Fellowship at the Market Photo Workshop.