A Life Less Ordinary

09/06/2010

Wigging out @ Penarth and Cardiff

A Life Less Ordinary
Turner House Gallery, Penarth and Morgan Arcade, Cardiff
3/5


Divided between two separate SouthWales venues, this visually stimulating collection from Ffotogallery challenges stereotypical notions of racial and sexual identity in South Africa.

The white walls of Turner House Gallery are dotted with the type of images that might make you look and think twice about race and gender relations. These include those by international artist, Pieter Hugo, who uses several portraits of people with albinism – the congenital disorder which removes the natural pigmentation from skin, hair and eyes – to make a comment about people whose first appearance can sometimes provoke social awkwardness.

Meanwhile, multiracial South African feminist artist Tracey Rose chooses to stick her middle finger up at traditional notions of racial and gender identity. In one photo, she appears outside a large, gated house in a smart suit and diamond earrings, resembling a high powered American politician. In another, she’s sprawled over a car bonnet in bondage gear with a whip in hand. The effect is more Lady Gaga than it is First Lady.

The second half of the exhibition in Morgan Arcade only gets stranger. A stroll through the giant glass doors puts you face-to-face with what could be a black, bushy tree. A closer look reveals that it is a mass of black hair sitting on top of a wooden hat-stand. The piece, which is by visual artist Athi-Patra Ruga, uses his own wiry hair to create an outfit for a female pedestrian in another exhibit.

But the arguable star of the show is a small pink room draped in silver tinsel. Despite first appearances, it’s not a fairy grotto but the entrance to a video installation. Black and white footage flickers across the screen featuring a chaotic sequence of short stories chosen by artist Dineo Seshee Bopape.  Mirrored walls and lighting effects serve to make the experience a slightly disorientating one. But a dash back outside soon brings you back to reality.

An exhibition not without its controversial moments, but it’s one that hopes to shake the foundations of racist and sexist thoughts.

Kacie Morgan
 
Exhibition runs until June 19