Influential South African photographer leaves his Footprints at Standard Bank Gallery

Fashioned in what has been described as a documentary-styled exhibition, Footprints is the new display open at Standard Bank Gallery – one not to miss by South Africans.

Reflecting real occurrences, hardships and lifestyles of the average South African, Andrew Tshabangu has channelled his photography to tell a story through this authentically produced photo-documentary of South Africa, titled Footprints.

Speaking at the launch of the exhibition on 17 February, Wally Serote, activist and struggle stalwart, explained his first encounter with Tshabangu. “I met Andrew Tshabangu when Alexandra was at war with itself and I had just come back from exile. I asked two young people why they wanted to become photographers. Andrew said he wanted to keep a record – a record of the people who couldn’t speak for themselves.”

Also speaking at the opening of Footprints was Barbara Freemantle, curator of the Standard Bank Gallery, who recapped fondly the work of the photographer and declared, “Andrew Tshabangu has established himself as one of the most important photographers in South Africa.”

This exhibition was compiled from works dating as far back as the 90s, offering a look at the city and its people; both new and old.

With one picture framed, inverted and captured through the rearview mirror of a car and another of his images fractured through the cracks of a window, Tshabangu presents a view of the things he’s seen in a refracted or obscure way.

Drawn to photograph the lives of the mediocre and mundane, his works often capture the everyday activities of washing clothes, praying at the Crucifix and the usual happenings that take place in Johannesburg.

The photographer has travelled and photographed a number of people and places including Durban and Mozambique’s seascapes, Johannesburg and Alexandra, among others, developing new ideas and narratives about them all.

He has been described as a man who shows what he feels by the photo’s he takes, so don’t miss out on the chance to see what he sees while Footprints is on display, until 29 April.

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