Images give history a voice

13 February 2007 - 02:00
By unknown

Patience Bambalele

Patience Bambalele

Voices from the Land is a striking exhibition by photojournalist Jurgen Schadeberg that will run at the Durban Art Gallery from tomorrow to March 24.

Schadeberg is a celebrated photographer whose works contributed to defining and documenting South African history. He came to South Africa in 1950 from war-torn Berlin and became one of the few white photographers to document black history. He captured defining moments that shaped our history.

Schadeberg is best-known for his long and significant association with Drum magazine, where he trained a number of black photographers.

His photographs bring alive key social, cultural and political events and personalities.

Some of the historic events he photographed include the 1956 Treason Trial, the 1958 Sophiatown removals and the 1960 Sharpeville massacre. He also photographed Nelson Mandela before he was imprisoned on Robben Island, and Walter Sisulu, Oliver Tambo and Govan Mbeki. He will also exhibit his pictures of Dolly Rathebe, Kippie Moeketsi, Thandi Klaasens, Miriam Makeba and Dorothy Masuka.

Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan said: "Voices from the Land captures the living and working conditions of both the farmers and farmworkers in the new South Africa. He has looked at successful farms run by black and white farmers."