Saturday
(archival inkjet prints, 2011)
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“Saturday” is a body of work recently produced while in South Africa. The last time I was in Cape Town was 17 years ago, just before the end of Apartheid. I was unnerved returning, I had expected more progress, little seemed to have changed. Cape Town proper and its pristine suburbs remain very” white”. Sixty percent of the population still live in the Townships far north of the city. Economic apartheid doesn't seem to be the only reason for the lack of residential desegregation. Many Blacks who have moved out missed the lifestyle, social contacts, religion and vibrancy of the Townships. More and more middle class Blacks are choosing to stay and move into middle class housing in the Townships. Some are moving back.
One Saturday I spent the morning at the Old Biscuit Mill Market in the city and the afternoon at Langa Township. Both bustled with activity and though only miles apart, they seemed worlds apart. The Old Biscuit Mill was a surprise, I was expecting a farmers market come flee market, it was more like Harrods under a tent. I could have spent the entire day there, truly amazing, but so was Langa. The appropriation of shipping containers is astounding. Local business hopefuls and entrepreneurs go to the docks, purchase a container, negotiate a space and start their business. The containers were used for all matter of businesses, restaurants, phone centers, grocers, hair salons, bars, travel, auto repair, you name it. Plus, the people are out and about, a contrast to the quite neighborhoods of the suburbs.
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