Kgotso
Linocut
A/P
104,5 cm x 84,5 cm
Artist’s Statement
My work explores the evolving landscapes of South Africa and the social inequities experienced by indigenous communities, particularly through the lens of architecture and urban design. I focus on the stark racial disparities embedded in the living conditions created by apartheid-era spatial planning, where non-European communities were forced into segregated urban zones. Photography becomes a tool for capturing both the fleeting tranquility and the persistent socio-political tensions of these environments.
A central focus of my recent work is the “NE 51” matchbox houses, a product of the National Building Research Institute’s segregationist policies (1948–1951). These houses, especially in Soweto, stand as architectural symbols of systemic oppression. My personal experience growing up in a four-roomed house shapes my perspective. These structures represent both the constraints imposed by apartheid and the resilience of black South African life.
Cycling through Soweto as a “flâneur”, I have observed how residents are transforming these homes, inspiring a body of work centered on township architecture. My research draws from historical texts like Douglas Calderwood’s thesis on NE 51 houses.
My physical process integrates photography, printmaking, and found objects such as lace, doilies, and household remnants imbued with cultural memory. Techniques like blind embossing and Lino printing, combined with traditional Japanese papers, allow for layered interpretations of domestic and urban space. These textures reference both interior life and broader urban planning maps, suggesting how personal histories are shaped by political forces. Through this, I aim to reflect on the lingering impacts of apartheid urbanism today.