The passing of Thabiso Sekgala

It is with great sadness and shock that we share the untimely passing of Thabiso Sekgala.

As friends and colleagues we share with his family the devastation, grief and heaviness of heart. In our precious memories we hold of Thabiso we see him as a distinctive photographer fronting clear ideas about the world around him. He inspired, held to integrity, engaged, articulated, smiled. In his unassuming way he spoke of life, love, adventures of being with others, deeply respectful.

As a photographer Thabiso was inspired by looking at the human experience, lived or imagined. “Images capture our history, who we are, our presence and absence.” Growing up in both rural and urban South Africa influenced his work. It is in these dualities that informed the stories that he told through his photographs, deeply engaged in land, belonging and notions of home.

In this moment our hearts go out to Thabiso’s family and friends. His invaluable contribution to photography in South Africa we will hold close to us to live on.

 

Thabiso Sekgala
21 Jul 1981 – 15 Oct 2014

Thabiso Sekgala was born in 1981 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied at the Market Photo Workshop in 2007 to 2008 and was awarded the Tierney Fellowship at the Market Photo Workshop in 2010. Sekgala has had solo exhibitions in Johannesburg, Berlin and Brussels and has shown in group shows internationally. In 2013 he had residencies in both the Künstlerhaus Bethanien, Berlin, and at HIWAR/Durant Al Funun, Jordan. His work focuses on South African communities facing the long shadow of apartheid and explores themes of abandonment and memory.

Thabiso Sekgala is part of the collaboration with Kalpesh Lathigra that will be the main commission for the Joburg Photo Umbrella, opening 8 November 2014 12h00 at the Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown.
(Co-commissioned by the Market Photo Workshop, Photoworks, The Space for Brighton Photo Biennial 2014 and the Joburg Photo Umbrella, Johannesburg 2014. The project is  commissioned by the British Council Connect ZA as part of of SA-UK Seasons 2014 & 2015 which is partnership between the Department of Arts & Culture, South Africa and the British Council.)

Memorial service
In collaboration with the Goodman Gallery and the Goethe Institut there will be a memorial service at:

Market Photo Workshop
Thursday 23 Oct 13h00

2 President Street
Entrance Bus Factory
Newtown

+27 11 834 1444

For any enquiries please contact:
Lekgetho Makola
lekgethom@marketphotoworkshop.co.za