In Conversation with Nonzuzo Gxekwa

Nonzuzo Gxekwa and Julie Bonzon, June 2020 

JB: Is there a specific theme connecting your photographs together?

NG: I think the work is framed around beauty. What draw me to the people I photograph is how they represent themselves, how they go about their day, how they dress up, for all of them it’s bold, whether it’s the hair, whether it’s the clothing. I think there is an element of representation, of beauty, of clothing being this statement of how people want to be seen in the world. I think, for all of them, it’s the confidence that they show that interests me.  

JB: How did you select the people in your photographs? In which context did you take the pictures?

NG: Most of the people are shot on the streets, it’s really random, people that I see whilst walking or commuting to work in Johannesburg. I like to play around the idea of the masculine and feminine representations in images, to question what makes men for example, is it the clothing, is the values that you grew up with at home? I like to explore these ideas. When I shot people, I ask them to be themselves and it’s always interesting to see how they pose (laughs), it’s always staged to a certain degree.

JB: Could tell me more about the photograph of the two women, taken from the back? 

Hair is also a common theme in my work. In the past couple of years, black women have just been wearing their hair natural regardless of the spaces they occupy. It’s very interesting, going back to the hairstyles we grew up with you know, the ‘bantu knots’, the benny and betty cornrows, when we were growing up, these were not considered beautiful, it was a pre-style you would do when you are at home, just to keep your hair tidy, but actually seeing that in the public space, being celebrated, is really refreshing. I have seen women embracing short hair and natural hair which is not relaxed, and feeling really beautiful. My pictures are about hair but also simply about beauty, these are all beautiful women, there is something sparkling about their features, about their eyes.

JB: What about the flowers?

I am also very fascinated by flowers, I am not sure why. I guess I shot them because it’s a bit easier compared to shooting people, negotiating and trying to explain myself (laughs) which can be hard sometimes. Flowers are beautiful and mean different things to different people. They make me happy.

JB: I find your close-up portraits so amazing, there is a sense of intimacy, did you know these people before taking their pictures? They look so comfortable posing for you.

NG: I usually meet them on the day that I shot them. I randomly run into them and the interaction can take less than 5 minutes (laughs). They probably just felt very confident in front of the camera. Also, unlike most photographers, I think when you come to my work, it’s not really planned, half of the time it’s more intuition. There is a lot of random images that have been shot, but in those minutes when I am with the people, there is always this moment of connection, and feeling good together, in those moments, magic can happen.

JB: Could you tell me more about the relationship between your work and the LGBTQIA community?

NG: The other part of my photography is documenting the LGBTQIA community. Occasionally, when I have time, I go and attend pride. I really love how people look, for instance, the individual wearing the T-Shirt 'selfie'. Half of the time, this community is misunderstood, or not given a chance to be themselves and be confident with who they are.

JB: How did you start photography? Why did you start taking pictures?

NG: It's two things. There is a picture that my twin sister took of my that really changed how I saw images. Also, being in Johannesburg, being from a small town and seeing all these new things, wanting to document what I see, to remember things, it started like this. Joburg is such a hard place, you know, for people who are not from the city. I am just drawn to the small things that make the city beautiful, the people that move through the city, the colours, the buildings. There is something about the way people carry themselves, despite their situations. I think this is what moves me. That's also why I sometimes shot people from the back, especially in my street pictures. I really like how people move, how people dress up. There are people that I am really drawn to, energy is something that connects me to people.

JB: I noticed that you have two different profiles on Instagram: 'nonzuzogxekwa' and 'taxidiaries', why the title 'taxidiaries' in particular? Is there a connection to Johannesburg?

NG: I commute everyday. I live in the suburbs, twenty minutes away from central Johannesburg which is the CBD and I have chosen to use public transports and taxi is my mode of transport. Some of the images are shot whilst I am in a taxi or around the taxi ranks. It's almost like a daily diary of my way to the city, of coming back from the city, my interaction with this space.

JB: How would you describe Johannesburg to someone who doesn't know much about it?

NG: Johannesburg is this big, busy place, where you can get lost. Most of my friends are scared to go to the city. There is dirt on the floor, overcrowded buildings. There are people selling vegetables, there are people shooting up drugs, there is someone stealing someone else's phone: everything is there. It can be frustrating, people are bumping against each other. There is this smell, this disgusting smell, that is there, constantly. But in the chaos, there is always something beautiful. There is life, there is this amazing energy, people are laughing, they make really nice food too (laughs), you just need to know where to go. Everyone came to Joburg trying to fulfil their dreams, to find better opportunities, sometimes it's not possible, not everyone is lucky. The city is constantly changing.

The transcription of this interview was made possible thanks to Le projet IMPACT by Xavier Gradoux & Jérôme Jacquin.