Photographer and visual activist Zanele Muholi, will be in conversation with Renée Mussai, the London-based curator behind Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness. Muholi, whose preferred pronouns are they and them, uses their body as a canvas to confront the politics of race and representation in the visual archive. Muholi’s psychologically charged portraits are unapologetic in their directness as they explore different archetypes, personal and collective histories, contemporary politics, and global events. By increasing the contrast in the dark complexion of their skin, Muholi interrogates complex representations of beauty, pride, and desire. Gazing defiantly at the camera, Muholi challenges the viewer’s perceptions while firmly asserting their cultural identity on their own terms.

Event Schedule:
6pm: Museum opens
6.30pm: Auditorium Doors open
7pm: Program begins
8.15pm: Q+A
8.30pm: Book signing and reception

This event is free and open to the public, but you must register online.

CLICK TO REGISTER

Partnerships: Mailchimp, Art Papers Live, Spelman College Museum of Art, Atlanta Celebrates Photography, in conjunction with “Zanele Muholi: Somnyama Ngonyama, Hail the Dark Lioness” on view at Spelman College Museum of Art Sept. 14 – December 8.

Getting There: Rideshare from West End MARTA station or Rideshare or drive to Spelman Lane from Westview Dr. SW or Lee St. (Lee St. intersects I-20). Use parking lot just past security gate or parking deck if lot is full.

IMAGE CREDIT: Zanele Muholi, “Somnyama Ngonyama II, Oslo,” 2015 © Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of Stevenson, Cape Town/Johannesburg and Yancey Richardson, New York