Leburu le ile and Magabane captured what remained
The complex issue of land spills into photography.
A photography exhibition of the works of Paako Magabane took place at The Market Photo Workshop in Newtown.
The exhibition was called Leburu le ile -a Setswana phrase meaning, “the white farmer has left”.
Magabane was inspired to tell a story through photography through those words which were uttered by farm workers when asked about their living conditions on an un-operational farm.
“As a photographer, I find it interesting that there are people living on vast fields of land but they themselves do not have land they can call their own. I am therefore photographing this irony.
“This exhibition aims to articulate the undertones of these beautiful and romantic sceneries and tell the story of these people,” said Magabane.
The Soweto-born photographer began his career as a hobby in 2007 and in 2010 he studied and acquired his qualification through The Market Photo Workshop that year. His work has been featured in magazines like Ogojii and Applause as well as newspapers such as The Sunday World and The Star.
Magabane has had impressive accomplishments over the 6 years spanning his career. From being part of exhibitions such as Black Ambition, Intransit and Human code & symbols held at the Market Photo Workshop and the Goethe Institute in Johannesburg, to co-publishing a book together with filmmaker Tebogo Malope called Black Ambition-Life in Two Lenses. He also runs Over Exposed Photography a commercial visual arts company.
‘The exhibition was a success, the objective to bring together young people in a creative space to talk about issues of land was met. I am happy that my book was embraced and bought”, said Magabane.
‘’The exhibition was well received. I am especially grateful how well the event went. The support we got is humbling. We had 158 people attending our launch night,” said Kamogelo Magabane, organiser and brand manager.
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