Landscapes between Then and Now: Recent Histories in Southern African Photography, Performance and Video Art

Nicola Brandt's book Landscapes Between Then and Now explores the cross-disciplinary work of photographers and artists during the transition from apartheid to post-apartheid and into the contemporary era. It sheds light on themes related to aftermath landscapes,embodied histories,unbelonging,spirituality,and memorialization. Brandt draws on the work of Santu Mofokeng to highlight the relationship between landscape and identity and the legacy of the apartheid regime. The book explores how practitioners engage with identity and their physical environment to reveal the complex and fractured nature of postcolonial and contemporary societies. It asks why these works are critical now and what possibilities they suggest for social and political reflection and engagement.

Format: Hardback
Length: 282 pages
Publication date: 23 January 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In her captivating book, Landscapes Between Then and Now, Nicola Brandt delves into the captivating and diverse cross-disciplinary work of photographers and artists during the transformative period from apartheid to post-apartheid and into the contemporary era. By examining a selection of artworks created in South Africa, Namibia, and Angola, Brandt sheds light on established and emerging themes related to aftermath landscapes, embodied histories, (un)belonging, spirituality, and memorialization. Through her insightful analysis, she demonstrates how landscape and identity are mutually constituted, highlighting the enduring impact of the racially divisive policies of the apartheid regime on the land.

As a guiding thread throughout the book, Brandt draws upon the profound insights of renowned South African photographer Santu Mofokeng, whose critical thinking about landscape serves as a valuable reference point. Landscapes Between Then and Now explores how practitioners who engage with identity and their physical environment as a social product can offer valuable insights into the complex and fractured nature of postcolonial and contemporary societies. Through a range of strategies and aesthetics, these artists comment on inherent structures and epistemologies of power while also expressing new and radical forms of self-determinism.

Brandt poses thought-provoking questions about the criticality of these cross-disciplinary works, ranging from social documentary to experimental performance and embodied practices, in the present moment. She explores why they are essential for social and political reflection and engagement, suggesting important possibilities for collective understanding and collective action.

In conclusion, Landscapes Between Then and Now is a groundbreaking exploration of the intersection between landscape, identity, and social change. Through her meticulous research and insightful analysis, Nicola Brandt provides a rich tapestry of perspectives and ideas that challenge our understanding of the past, present, and future. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of our world and the potential for transformative change.

Weight: 564g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350024007