Expressions LIVE Jazz at FotoZA Gallery - 18 September

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Expressions, Siphiwe Mhlambi's Extraordinary Photography

This Saturday, the 18th of September, 2021, sees the return of Siphiwe Mhlambi’s Expressions photography exhibition. As has become the norm, Mhlambi will hold the event at FotoZA, the Fine Art photographic gallery situated in Rosebank, adjacent to Kameraz. 

There will be two sessions on the day:

• 11:00 - 11:45
• 13:00 - 13:45

Your ticket price includes access to both sessions. There will be a short interlude between the two sessions.

Prince Lengoasa featuring 

Motheo Lengoasa - Vocals

Darlington Okofu - Keys

Siphiwe Shiburi - Drums

Emanuel Paul - Bass.

September is heritage month in South Africa, and through his photographs that celebrate cultural icons, Mhlambi’s Expressions adds to the heritage of the city. 

A major artist in his own right, audiences will be looking forward to the latest edition of the jazz series of photographs by Mhlambi. He is able to draw from an extraordinary archive of works created over three decades. His passion for jazz is equaled only by his portraits of the artists who create this most wondrous music called jazz. 

For the opening, Mhlambi has invited Prince Lengoasa to play. Lengoasa is one of South Africa’s most gifted trumpeters. He is also a singer, composer, and bandleader. Other musicians and artists who will play during exhibitions include Nduduzo Makhathini, Ziza Muftic, Billy Monama, Themba Mokoena, McCoy Mrubata, Mandla Mlangeni & Amandla Freedom Ensemble, Natalia Molebatsi, Gontse Makhene, and Kabelo Monnathebe & Resonance. 

Mhlambi’s exhibition is justifiably called Expressions because, in each portrait that he presents, he is somehow able to capture uniquely expressive moments with his camera. There’s something visceral about each of the photographs that Mhlambi presents with such care in Expressions. 

Mhlambi’s mastery of light is a reminder that the camera is jazz’s other great instrument. He weaves in so much emotion between the light and darkness and the shadows that lend to the subtle power of his photography.

Jazz musicians have attracted the attention of some of the most gifted photographers, including Herman Leonard, George Hallett, Milt Hinton, Roy DeCavara, Hugh Bell, William Claxton, Art Kane, Jurgen Schadenberg, Tseliso Monaheng. In the years when South Africa was fighting against Apartheid, jazz provided the soundtrack to those who yearned for democracy. 

In the years since South Africa became a democracy, jazz artists from South Africa have performed on some of the most important jazz stages in the world and Mhlambi has been there to capture these images of freedom. 

This latest edition of Expressions will be viewed in the context of the individual portraits but also within the frame of jazz photography in general. His compelling work is certain to deepen interest in South Africa’s jazz scene and its membership in the global jazz community. 

Amongst Mhlambi’s portraits are those of Abigail Kubeka, Dorothy Masuka, Zoe Modiga, Sibongile Khumalo, Paul Hamner, Kitty Phehla, Busi Mhlongo, Hugh Masekela, Abdullah Ibrahim, Thandie Klaasen, Vusi Khumalo, Steve Kekana, Themba Mokoena, Wynton Marsalis, Gregory Porter, and countless others. 

The portraits in this exhibition explore a range of emotions. Harnessing the wide range of tools and styles available to the photographer, he captures that most intense of moments of the jazz artist in action. Throughout this series, Mhlambi captures the public and private worlds that these artists delve into to create the magic called jazz. His photographs are a reminder, if any was needed, that jazz is rooted in an art form that promotes the values of equality, respect, and dignity.

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