Inkjet print on cotton fibre-based paper, Baryta coated
- image: 19 11/16 x 19 11/16in (50 x 50cm)
- sheet: 23 7/8 x 23 11/16in (60.7 x 60.2cm).
Isililo XX by Zanele Muholi is an evocative inkjet print on cotton fibre-based, Baryta coated paper. Measuring 50 x 50 cm, this striking black-and-white photograph captures a figure shrouded in dark fabric with only the eyes and a central white stripe visible, creating a powerful contrast against the textured background. The subject wears a hat, enhancing the sense of anonymity and mystery. Muholi’s work often addresses identity, visibility, and the experiences of marginalized communities. This piece invites viewers to confront themes of masking, identity, and cultural expression through a haunting, enigmatic portrait.
Zanele Muholi (South Africa, 1972) is a groundbreaking visual activist and photographer, celebrated for their powerful portraits of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals. Their work challenges discrimination and highlights identity, resilience, and dignity. Through projects like Faces and Phases, Muholi has reshaped the global narrative around queer visibility and social justice.
Inkjet printAn inkjet printer creates prints by spraying millions of tiny ink droplets onto paper. This type of printing is generally inexpensive because the ink is relatively affordable. Artists can use computers to create digital art, which can then be printed in color using inkjet technology.
Inkjet print on cotton fibre-based paper, Baryta coated
- image: 19 11/16 x 19 11/16in (50 x 50cm)
- sheet: 23 7/8 x 23 11/16in (60.7 x 60.2cm).
Isililo XX by Zanele Muholi is an evocative inkjet print on cotton fibre-based, Baryta coated paper. Measuring 50 x 50 cm, this striking black-and-white photograph captures a figure shrouded in dark fabric with only the eyes and a central white stripe visible, creating a powerful contrast against the textured background. The subject wears a hat, enhancing the sense of anonymity and mystery. Muholi’s work often addresses identity, visibility, and the experiences of marginalized communities. This piece invites viewers to confront themes of masking, identity, and cultural expression through a haunting, enigmatic portrait.
Zanele Muholi (South Africa, 1972) is a groundbreaking visual activist and photographer, celebrated for their powerful portraits of Black LGBTQIA+ individuals. Their work challenges discrimination and highlights identity, resilience, and dignity. Through projects like Faces and Phases, Muholi has reshaped the global narrative around queer visibility and social justice.
Fine artists deal with finery, but I deal with painful material.
- Zanele Muholi
Zanele Muholi is a South African photographer and visual activist whose striking black-and-white pictures highlight the experiences of black lesbian and transgender people in Africa. Muholi was born in the slum of Umlazi, not far from Durban. She earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in Advanced Photography from DUT.
Muholi's images often show personal moments of power and fragility, celebrating the beauty and strength of those who overcome prejudice and brutality. Her goal is to produce a visual history of South Africa's black lesbian and transgender communities in an effort to dismantle hegemonic cultural narratives.
Sometimes referred to as Conceptualism, this is an art form where the idea(s) or concept(s) behind the work take precedence over material concerns and traditional aesthetics. Many conceptual artworks can be created by anyone simply by following written instructions. The concept or idea is the most essential aspect of the artwork.