Hair politics, self-love and identity in Neto’s Turning Heads

Editorial and street photography come together in Kgomotso Neto Tleane’s photographic exhibition, Turning Heads. Reflecting on the African grooming and self-care experience, the exhibition is not only one of Kgomotso’s extremely poignant and personal works to date but is a stunning and colourful representation of self-love.

Initially rolled out online and accompanied by a video piece before finding a home at Braamfontein’s Artivist, the collaborative effort between Kgomotso, Didintle Ntshudisane, Mamello Mokhele, Dimpho Mashile, and Zoe Pluto was inspired by black people and how they groom themselves on sidewalks, taxi ranks, malls and other unconventional spaces.

“The idea came from how a lot of us groom ourselves in the streets, in the city and the township,” Kgomotso said.

“We cut hair, do nails, buy wigs in streets. It’s always cheap and affordable to get yourself looking good in the streets to the point where your hairstyle turns heads. Also, I don’t know how many salons I’ve seen in the hood called Turning Heads. That’s where one element of the shoot came from.”

Turning Heads takes on more than issues of grooming and self-love. It also picks up on issues surrounding hair politics and self-identity and how these come together to make a political statement.

“When I was creating this, I felt the need to create something that was personal work – but at the same time, it feels a bit editorial and street. I had to narrow it down to hair, because I felt like that was simpler to do and a lot of people have a special relationship with hair and how they groom themselves in their own spaces.”

Although the images featured in the exhibition take on a multiplicity of meanings as seen by the viewer, Kgomotso said he went for a specific look and wanted people with strong features.

“It was very intentional and I wanted people who were dark-skinned – that mostly speaks to people like me – black people. I needed people who look striking.”

Kgomotso is an ingenious South African photographer with the edgings of rural life and fast-paced city living. He creates imagery that effortlessly reflects both the grime and glory of the city he inhabits – Johannesburg. He is currently freelancing, specialising in portraiture and editorials. His main focus is documenting everyday South Africans, which he showcases on his website and social media platforms.

 “I think it’s really important for the work to be accessible and mainly to people that could possibly identify with the work, it really is a reflection of the space they are in,” Kgomotso concluded.

Take a look at some of the works in Neto’s photographic exhibition, Turning Heads below: