Senior lecturer documents the photographic history of South Africa in his latest book
05 March 2025
Having visited South Africa to chart the country’s photographic history from colonialism to democracy, Falmouth lecturer Dr Simon A. Clarke is now sharing his findings in his latest book, Life Itself: Photography and South Africa, which was published by Reaktion Books in February.
Exploring how people, events, and places have been depicted in photographic images, Simon sheds light on the role of the camera in South African society in this latest publication.
He will be sharing more about his photographic discoveries at events this spring, but
before he delves into his discoveries at these informative events, we took a moment to chat with Simon to learn more about his time researching and writing this visual documentation of South Africa.
What first inspired you to write Life Itself: Photography and South Africa?
My inspiration came from a variety of experiences and moments. Louis Mwaniki set me on a track of inquiry into African art when a lecturer in fine art at Kenyatta University, and then Nick Stanley at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, guided me through doctoral research and fieldwork in eastern Africa.
A chance meeting with the South African photographer and artist Roger Ballen in Paris then aroused my curiosity in South African photography.
What did you find most interesting, or even surprising, when writing this book?
Fieldwork was rewarding in South Africa, and it included days immersed in archives at the National Library of South Africa; University of Cape Town, Jagger Library and, University of the Western Cape, Robben Island Mayibuye Archive.
Seeing and understanding the agency within photographs like Nelson Mandela during the Treason Trial, 1958 and Miriam Makeba in a Downtown Recording Studio, 1955 by Drum magazine photographer Jurgen Schadeberg, are just two examples that brought into focus the resilience in adversity during apartheid.
A memorable conversation I had was with curator Ingrid Masondo at the South African National Gallery (SANG), which focused on a photograph of writer Bessie Head by George Hallett and remains firmly fixed in my mind. It was an intuitive response to include the portrait in the book upon seeing it for the first time at SANG.
Ingrid was adamant and clear that I had to read Bessie’s books if I was to include the portrait. I took her advice and read When Rain Clouds Gather, 1969. I still feel moved by her portrait, writings, and life and this will remain the case.
How did you collaborate with photographers to create this publication?
Relationships with photographers often evolved from long distance correspondence to informal interviews in Johannesburg or Cape Town. In other instances, connections grew by way of photography agencies, such as Magnum Photos, which was the case for Ian Berry and Lindokuhle Sobekwa.
Galleries that represented photographers also played a key role in facilitating discussions about their lives and work. Conversations with David Goldblatt at his home in Johannesburg significantly helped to restructure the book around the apartheid era in South Africa, as did his insights into his photographic oeuvre.
What do you hope readers takeaway from this photographic history of South Africa?
This is not an easy history to engage with, which, to some degree, is indicative of African history from the early days of colonialism to the present day. I hope readers will see and recognise the power of the photographic image and its vital role in documenting deep and meaningful social stories.
I want to highlight how both the photographer and the photograph can play a role in shining a light on global challenges. I want to communicate how this directly and indirectly can facilitate social transformations.
Simon will be sharing more of his insight into the photography of South Africa in his upcoming events, starting with his book launch at The Photographer’s Gallery in London, on 20 March. This will be followed by a local event at Morrab Library in Penzance on 17 May.
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