| Intro | South African photographer |
| Is | Photographer |
| From | South Africa |
| Type | Arts |
| Gender | male |
| Birth | 28 November 1966 |
| Age: | 53 years |
| Star sign | Sagittarius |
Andrew Tshabangu (born 28th November 1966) is a South African photographer born in Dube, Soweto. He is known for his black-and-white social documentary photographic work which was shown in a largescale retrospective entitled Footprints at Standard Bank Gallery from February to April 2017, and which was accompanied by a book publication.
Early life
Andrew Tshabangu was born in Dube, Soweto on the 28th of November 1966. Tshabangu’s mother hails from the Rustenburg area whereas his father originates from the Vaal. He is the last born of five children, with three brothers and one sister. However his sister has since passed away. He attended Thabisang Primary School and Phefeni Senior Secondary School, both situated in Soweto.
Career
Tshabangu has stated that photography was not his first choice as a profession, he was initially interested pursuing a number of other careers. In his early life he gained an interest in teaching, he then birthed an interest in theatre which resulted in him applying to the University of the Witwatersrand to study dramatic arts. However, he was not accepted when he auditioned for admission. There were other interests such as becoming a banker and joining a seminary to study priesthood which also didn’t come to fruition. The artist we see today was harnessed by the Alexandra Community Art Centre during his time there in 1990, where he received his first lessons in visual literacy and photography. He also notes his classmates at the Alexandra Community Art Centre, as notable influences his photographic practice alongside the literature he consumed. After his time at the Alexandra Community Art Centre he did freelance work for a period of 8 months at New Nation. Tshabangu taught photography at the Children’s Photography Workshop and the Market Photo Workshop. He has facilitated photographic workshops in Kenya, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Mozambique, Reunion and Guyana, and participated in residencies in Reunion, London, New York and Nairobi. His work is shown internationally in exhibitions and numerous publications.
Influences
Andrew Tshabangu notes Ernest Cole as one of his earliest influences.
Methodology
When it comes to light, Andrew Tshabangu is distinctly sensitive to shadows, darkness and light itself. These three elements, including black and white film are Tshabangus’s tools with which he creates his photographs. Tshabangu tends to use heightened tonal contrast, which allows for greater impact in his images. Another quality is that Tshabangu juxtaposes distant forms with close ones to confuse the viewer, a strategy that calls for the viewer to look at the image more in depth and really discover what it is he is trying to say.
Tshabangu’s subjects are never separated from his work; rather they are co-creators who have allowed him into their intimate or sacred spaces, which speaks to his way of storytelling as a whole. He becomes habituated in the spaces he photographs which allows him to create images, which are well thought through and uniquely framed. His familiarity within certain spaces is evident as he photographs moments one would not easily capture going in as a parachute photographer.
Andrew Tshabangu has developed an interesting in depth look at the lives of everyday South Africans. Through his images, he offers a view at what he terms the “quieter things in our society “. This is not hard to understand considering that while most black photographers of his time have extensive archives of the ill treatment of black people at the hands of apartheid agents, his work focused on a number of other things occurring in black communities and bodies rather than chasing the same played out images of violence and riots.
Him leaving a job at a news house, to begin self commissioned work (passion projects) speaks volumes as to where he wanted to place himself as an artist, a choice to move from reporting to authoring. The work in the book “Footprints” spans over a number of years, displaying a certain level of commitment on one part, but on the other also a sense of extensive patience, taking the needed time to understand, connect to the work and research on it thoroughly, rather than a premature completion for completions sake. The work shows reverence, respect, sensitivity, creativity and a whole lot of depth.
Publications
- Godby, Michael (ed.) (2017) Incomparable: The Art of Andrew Tshabangu in Context. Johannesburg: Fourthwall Books, ISBN 978-0-9947009-2-6.