At the 2015 Joburg Art Fair, Lizamore & Associates will showcase the work of emerging photographer, Justin Dingwall. Dingwall is known for his series of beautiful composed portraits of Thando Hopa (a young lawyer-turned-model who has albinism), which has has attracted attention internationally. In October 2013 the portraits were on exhibition at the 1:54 African Art Fair in London, after making their debut at the prestigious FNB Johannesburg Art Fair. February 2014 saw these portraits on exhibition at the London14 Art Fair, as well as in a solo exhibition at the MIA Gallery in Seattle. “Exploring the ambiguities of classical beauty” is what is at the heart of the collaboration between Dingwall and Hopa.
Dingwall will show a new body of work at the Joburg Art Fair, titled In with the new. This title plays on the well-known English saying, which Dingwall re-interprets as “out with our old preconceived ideas and in with change and a new perspective”. Dingwall’s photographic series originates from this line of thought and offers fresh perspectives and new perceptions to the viewer. These new works continues the artist’s exploration of albinism and features Sanele Xaba, a young model with albinism. “As a society, we are uncomfortable to acknowledge the prevalence of albinism in our country. People with albinism are shunned for reasons of witchcraft and for not fitting in with society’s norms. There are many misconceptions that attach a severe social stigma to people with albinism” explains Dingwall. The artist has made a conscious effort to portray an intimate perspective to foreground the myths surrounding albinism.
Lizamore & Associates look forward to welcome guests to engage with Dingwall’s unique portrayal of albinic beauty at this year’s Joburg Art Fair.
