“Sibadala Sibancane” by South African artist Lebogang Tlhako is on view at the 52nd Les Rencontres d’Arles photography festival from July 4 to September 26, 2021.
The title of the series means “we are old, we are young,” and is an intimate portrayal of Southern and Eastern African ideas in contemporary African photography. All shot on 35mm film, Tlhako’s photographs illustrate her relationship with her mother and how it has influenced and shaped her growth into a young woman. She uses the method of keeping photo albums and album making to channel themes of nostalgia. Through crafting collages of images of her mother layered with cut outs of portraits of young children and landscapes from her community and environment, “Sibadala Sibancane” explores middle-class femininity that was present to Tlhako throughout her life.
