Cape Town's month of photography
By Kim Gurney
Cape Town's Month of Photography (MOP), a biennial festival of photography from all genres, begins this month with a launch event at the Castle of Good Hope. This year, MOP has linked up with the Cape Town Festival in a move intended to catalyse synergy between the events.
Geoff Grundlingh, MOP's founder and organiser at the South African Centre for Photography, sees the event as a way to foster talent among aspiring photographers as well as a platform for more established professionals to showcase their work. There will also be workshops and walkabouts to encourage learners to take up the medium.
The Castle, which hosts the opening night function, is also one of the many venues for exhibitions. Among them, Rima Geffen explores childhood reconstructions while fellow American Jeff Barbee exhibits a series on the effects of HIV/AIDS in Swaziland. Julia Tiffin, Zanele Muholi, Kali van der Merwe, Sarel Eloff and Margaret Stone are some of the South African photographers exhibiting alongside.
MOP is spread among various venues in the city, from art galleries to museums, hotels and even a car dealership. The themes of the shows are also varied. They range from portraits of sellers at Milnerton fleamarket to journeys back in time to childhood memories, from insightful commentary on the correctional services system at Pollsmoor Prison to tongue-in-cheek deliberations about romance.
Opens: 6pm, February 17 at the Castle of Good Hope
Closes: Various dates through March
For more information on exhibitions and venues, call (021) 480 7108 or visit www.photocentre.org.za or www.capetownfestival.co.za or the Artthrob listings guide.
