Beneath the Deep © Lebohang KganyeIn a captivating interplay of language and memory, South African artist Lebohang Kganye invites us into the depths of her latest installation, Le Sale ka Kgotso, at Fotografiska Berlin. This profound exhibition, titled after the Sesotho phrase for “stay in peace,” simultaneously echoes with the ominous undertones of mispronunciation – a subtle reminder of how language can twist meanings, shifting from warmth to the haunting spectre of the tokoloshe, a mischievous entity rooted in Xhosa and Zulu folklore. Kganye’s work continues to illuminate the complexities of our identities and histories, unveiling the unseen narratives that linger in language and form.
Exhibition Dates: September 12, 2025 – January 25, 2026
Artist Talk: September 12, 2025, at 7 PM – Win 2×2 Tickets!
@lebohang_kganye
@fotografiska.berlin
Le Sale ka Kgotso is more than an exhibition; it is a life-sized, immersive encounter. Modelled after a Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) house – a government initiative born from the societal upheaval of post-apartheid South Africa – this installation embodies fragility and resilience. Curated by Marina Paulenka and coordinated by Jessica Jarl, the exhibition offers a spectral framework that invites reflection on the intricacies of home and belonging.
Kganye’s artistic practice merges photography, sculpture, scenography, and oral history, with each element woven into a tapestry that rejects nostalgia. Instead, it engages with the unresolved intricacies of the present, threading together the political, the uncanny, and the deeply personal. The installation’s haunting aesthetic, crafted from aluminium and steel, blurs the boundaries between fact and fiction, employing familial memory to probe larger national myths.
The experience unfolds in five distinct yet interconnected scenes, each offering a narrative steeped in South African folklore and intergenerational storytelling. From the ominous Night’s Unwavering Resolve, where a family grapples with the ties between a giant rat and an enigmatic old woman, to the haunting figure of Mamlambo in Beneath the Deep, Kganye’s creations evoke a complex emotional landscape. The interplay of intimacy and danger in Draped in Shadow, mirrored by the flickering candlelight, draws viewers deeper into the mythic potential of domestic spaces.
In Whispers in the Air, a man meticulously sweeping a street becomes a ritual of spiritual maintenance, illustrating the abiding weight of beliefs that shape everyday life. The unsettling presence of the tokoloshe reminds us that shadows may not remain hidden – they may be meticulously maintained.
Draped in Shadow © Lebohang KganyeKganye, who has garnered significant acclaim, including the 2024 Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize, has already made waves in institutions like the Tate, Barnes Foundation, and the upcoming MoMA’s New Photography 2025. Her work resides in prestigious collections such as the Smithsonian Institution and the Getty Museum, reinforcing her voice in contemporary discourse.
As the opening of Le Sale ka Kgotso approaches, join us for an artist talk on September 12 at 7 PM, where Kganye will engage in dialogue with curator Marina Paulenka. This is an opportunity not to be missed! We’re giving away 2×2 tickets for this enlightening event. Sent an email till 3 pm 12.09 to
win@kaltblut-magazine.com
Explore the depths of home, identity, and the echoes of history with Lebohang Kganye’s resonant artistic vision – a journey that promises to linger long after you leave.
For tickets and more information, visit Fotografiska Berlin.
