As their new exhibition opens in San Francisco, Zanele Muholi talks about their powerful photos of queer survivors of hate crimes, couples in everyday moments, and self-portraits referencing history
The artist sees self-portraiture as an act of self-love, enabling a nuanced approach to both their own image and the photography of others. “I think it’s very important for us to look at ourselves before we look at other people,” they tell me. “I have my own personal take on pain. I have my own issues … I try to remember not to be in the background.
” While there are other mediums present in the exhibition – including a sculptural bust of the artist and paintings created in bold tones that explore ideas around representation – photography has always been Muholi’s primary medium. The artist talks about the proliferation of images of white queer and trans communities and says how important it is to redress the balance in creating lasting photographs of Black LGBTQ+ lives.