INKOSI MASONDO II
In series II, I became vulnerable in front of the camera, to capture a different layer of the concept. Delving deeper to that emotion how extreme the situation is to myself. During 23 August 2024, in the photography studio on campus. I investigated the raw emotion of this conflicting identity. Representing this layered discovered self, I applied a red cloth to display that sense of anger and how it is kept within. The photographs showcase the space I am, in terms of what emotions look like. Being in this dark space, showcases how I had to hide my emotions on a day-to-day basis to just adapt and co-exist with post-colonial lifestyle.
My calm body positions showcase the amount of composure I had, to accept this reality I exists. The hands being held up represent the weight of these two sides of me, as I struggle to hold myself up and how heavy things are personally. The Sotho blanket showcases my inherited tradition as a Black South African, regardless of my multi-cultural identity being all the strings of myself. The bible presents my religious identity, Christianity, as I growing up in a Church. Kneeling down showcases the heavy burden I must carry, as I am conflicted between the sides on what should come first, how I should represent myself in a more traditional or modern era. With the conflicting identity, the hardship of the journey made me highly angry and furious. I could not get many to understand my perspective and the reality my mother taught me.
