Zanele Muholi: Faces and Phases

Presented by: Ryerson Image Centre
June 18 – August 24, 2020
Curator: Dr. Gaëlle Morel

Zanele Muholi’s Faces and Phases aims to address the representation of black lesbian and queer identity, focusing largely on post-apartheid South Africa. This ongoing series of large-format black and white photographs includes more than 240 portraits, of which 36 are exhibited to coincide with the celebration of WorldPride 2014 in Toronto.

As a visual activist for the rights of LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex) people in South Africa and beyond, Muholi endeavours to radically change the conventional perception of lesbian and transgender communities, who suffer from an epidemic of continuous attacks: “corrective” and “curative” rapes, physical and psychological assaults, and hate crimes. Working from and for her own community, Muholi creates strong, beautiful and positive images of empowered individuals. As visual statements, her photographs dignify the members of an often hidden, voiceless
and marginalized population. The verticality and scale of the prints accentuate the resilience of the figures, purposely confronting the viewers with their scrutinizing gaze. The powerful images support and promote self-expression and pride, shaping and claiming a black lesbian and transgender visibility.

Related events:

June 18, 2014, 5:30-8pm
Opening Reception
Join us to celebrate the opening of our summer exhibitions at the Ryerson Image Centre, including What It Means To Be Seen: Photography and Queer Visiblity and Julie Gemuend: Imprint, as well as the re-opening of Zanele Muholi: Faces And Phases and Aleesa Cohene and Benny Nemerofsky Ramsay: The Same Problem 5

Tuesday, June 17, 2014, 7:30pm
RIC Lecture: Zanele Muholi
Artist Zanele Muholi will speak about her exhibition Zanele Muholi: Faces and Phases on view at the Ryerson Image Centre, June 18 – August 24, 2014.

www.ryerson.ca/ric



GALLERY HOURS:

TUESDAY: 11 - 6PM
WEDNESDAY: 11 - 8PM
THURSDAY: 11 - 6PM
FRIDAY: 11 - 6PM
SATURDAY: 12 - 5PM
SUNDAY: 12 - 5PM
MONDAY: CLOSED

FREE EXHIBITION TOURS DAILY AT 2:30PM






• All ages welcome
• Free to attend event
• Accessible space