Press Release A Photography Exhibition on Taxis - Launch Marang a Letsatsi Tuesday, 28 October 2014, 11h00 Mary Fitzgerald Square, Newtown As part of the Joburg Photo Umbrella taxis are wrapped with the work of photographer Jerry Gaegane. Gaegane’s series Marang a Letsatsi deals with informal mining in Johannesburg. This mobile exhibition project is an expansion and exploration of alternative approaches to display/presentation of photography art works. It seeks to give an opportunity for a continual interaction and engagement between a Community, Sites where narrative originates from and the body of work itself. This project, in particular aims to establish a dialogue on experiences of informal surface and underground miners on the West Rand and surrounding areas. As part of the Joburg Photo Umbrella programme, the images, wrapping taxis, will be commuting between Bree Street taxi rank in Johannesburg and Dobsonville, passing the mine dumps where the informal mining is known to operate from. Marang a Letsatsi, which means to see the sunrise in SeTswana is a photography project by Jerry Obakeng Gaegane – 2012 Market Photo Workshop Edward Ruiz Mentorship mentee in association with AngloGold Ashanti, who is documenting informal miners in the West Rand and around Johannesburg. It looks at the labour and living conditions of these miners who often come from the SADC region to Johannesburg. The Project has been extended, out of gallery the space, as part of the Joburg Photo Umbrella and will be exhibited on six taxis on the Johannesburg Bree Taxi Rank – Dobsonville, Soweto route for a two months period, 24 October – 24 December 2014. This project is an intervention that uses photography to reach a wider audience beyond the photography and visual art community to educate and open dialogue on how the world is perceived through photography. Marang a Letsatsi is a project close to Gaegane as a resident of Soweto and as an individual relying on the public transport system that the work is being exhibited on. The full body of work will also be exhibited at Eyethu Lifestyle Centre, th Soweto from the 13 November 2014. About the recipient Jerry Obakeng Gaegane Jerry Obakeng Gaegane was born and raised in Meadowlands, Soweto. After matriculating in 2005 he studied Ceramic Design at Siyavuka Lateral Improvement Foundation, Ipelegeng Community Centre. Thereafter he completed a course in Graphic Design at Rosebank College. It was here that he discovered photography and really felt a definite connection with analogue photography. In 2009 he enrolled at the Market Photo Workshop to study the Foundation Course in Photography. He completed the Intermediate Course and the one-year Advanced Programme in Photography in the following 2 years. During this time he won second prize in the Seed Competition from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Marang a Letsatsi Taxi Wrap project is supported by the Open Society Foundation and is part of SA-UK Seasons 2014 & 2015, which is a partnership between the Department of Arts & Culture, South Africa and the British Council About the Market Photo Workshop Market Photo Workshop was founded in 1989 by world-renowned photographer David Goldblatt. The Photo Workshop offers courses in photography and training, as well as multilayered projects and interactions that respond to the complex backgrounds of education, culture, and identity, within a contemporary understanding of photography and the social conditions of South Africa. Market Photo Workshop is a division of The Market Theatre Foundation. About Brighton Photo Biennial Brighton Photo Biennial is the UK’s leading curated photography festival and promotes new thinking around photography through a commissioned programme of events and exhibitions. The festival is produced by Photoworks, an organisation dedicated to enabling participation in photography, the most democratic medium of contemporary visual culture. Photoworks’ programme includes commissions, publishing and participation. In collaboration with local, national and international partners, Photoworks connects outstanding artists with audiences and champions talent and ambition. About the British Council and Connect ZA Founded in 1934, the British Council is the United Kingdom’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities. Our Visual Arts Department encompasses a range of activities and events, including touring exhibitions, workshops, seminars and study programmes. Since 1938, the British Council has commissioned artists to exhibit in the British Pavilion for the Venice Biennale, while our Collection of more than 8500 works of art introduces the achievements of successive generations of British artists to audiences worldwide. Connect ZA is an initiative from the British Council aimed at creating new ways to connect creatively with South Africa, with an emphasis on reaching new and diverse audiences, pioneering a new way of seeing and understanding the world through culture and creativity About the SA-UK Seasons The British Council and South Africa’s Department of Arts and Culture have launched the SAUK Seasons 2014 & 2015, a two year partnership to build lasting relationships in the creative communities of South Africa and the UK. For more information, log on to www.southafricaunitedkingdom.com For more information please visit at www.joburgphotoumbrella.co.za and http://joburgphotoumbrella.tumblr.com Or contact: Lekgetho Makola Manager: Programmes and Projects +27 (0) 11 834 1444 T [email protected] Market Photo Workshop 2 President Street (entrance Bus Factory) Newtown, Johannesburg [email protected] www.marketphotoworkshop.co.za The Market Photo Workshop is a division of The Market Theatre Foundation Principle Partners Sponsors and Supporters print frame display Commissioning Partners Participating Institutions and Galleries