Woza Sisi

An exhibition by Alumnus Award Recipient Dahlia Maubane

Opening

Wednesday
16 May 2018
18h00
The Photo Workshop Gallery
Closing: 7 October 2018

Woza Sisi is a project that explores how women hairstylists working in the Johannesburg CBD and in Maputo negotiate, navigate and shape complex demarcated trading zones. It looks at the ways in which women position themselves; how they use and negotiate urban spaces.

Visibility is important for hairstylists working informally; they have to call potential clients in a persuasive way – “Woza Sisi!, Woza zobona!, Woza Nice!”. The hairstylists in these images invest in creating an unforgettable experience; to keep loyal customers returning and possibly bring in new customers through word-of-mouth. This new chapter of the Woza Sisi project diverts to focus on the physical urban spaces in which the hairdressers live and work. Juxtaposing photographs of multiple viewpoints of Johannesburg and Maputo with tight interior views, this iteration negotiates the paradoxical multiplicity and singularity of hairdressing within these urban zones.

The first chapter of Woza Sisi was developed by Dahlia Maubane in 2012. Maubane has expanded on the project with a new chapter of photographs produced with the support of the Market Photo Workshop Alumnus Award.

About Dahlia Maubane

Dahlia Maubane (b.1988) is a photographer and multimedia designer. She studied at the National School of the Arts and completed a Bachelor of Technology in Multimedia at the University of Johannesburg in 2009. She went on to study at the Market Photo Workshop in 2010 and has participated in Market Photo Workshop projects such as the Makweteng Heritage Project 2011-2012, Joburg Photo Harare Masterclass 2013, and My Joburg: Short Change exhibition at La Maison Rouge Gallery, Paris. She was the Photographer in Residence at the 2012 International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Salzburg and participated in the inaugural Kampala Art Biennale 2014. Her on-going body of work, Woza Sisi was one of the 10 open call projects during the Joburg Photo Umbrella, which was part of SA-UK Seasons 2014 & 2015.  She then showcased this body of work at her hometown, Mahikeng with the support of the National Arts Council in 2017.

Market Photo Workshop Alumnus Award

The Market Photo Workshop Alumnus Award celebrates the outstanding achievements of Market Photo Workshop alumni. The award is given to a photographer who has used their experience of studying at the Market Photo Workshop towards the further development of photography as a medium.

For more information, please contact:

Mika Conradie
Manager: Public Programmes and Development
T +27 (0) 11 834 1444
E-mail: mikac@marketphotoworkshop.co.za

Market Photo Workshop
c/o Market Square
138 Lilian Ngoyi St
Entrance at Margaret Macingana Street
Newtown
Johannesburg

info@marketphotoworkshop.co.za
www.marketphotoworkshop.co.za

The Market Photo Workshop is a division of The Market Theatre Foundation.