Lecture Questions/Response: Zwelethu Mthethwa

1. How much of a role does the space in a picture have for your work?

2. Are there any social issues that you are hesitant to address?

Response:

I was super super excited for this lecture, Mthethwa is one of my recent favorite photographers, especially after seeing his work at the VMFA and at the Anderson Gallery. I was curious to hear about his work from him personally.

I really liked when and how he explained his process for his Interiors series. He said that he let them choose how they would be portrayed. He phrased it as "giving dignity back" to them. He stated that the process was important to the work. He would walk around and ask people if he could photograph them inside their homes. Eventually he broke the barrier of stranger and became familiar. People began to trust him.

3 words: fluidity, collaboration, open ended

I had no idea that he worked in video. I really enjoyed the video work he showed us, particularly the third video with the guys playing soccer. I would have enjoyed seeing that piece as it was intended to be shown.

In response to the questions I initially had, I generally know the answers to them both. In general his process plays a big role in the images. The space plays a role in that he is exploring how people have constructed their personal space, what they have chosen to surround themselves with. As for my second question, it seems to me that he avoids addressing politics in his work. He prefers to explore the other layers first. He also does not like to show poverty in his work. I suppose poverty for poverty's sake. He does not want to exploit the poor. In fact he stated that he hopes that his work can help them by bringing attention to the places and people in his work.