David
Goldblatt
&
Peter
Magubane
On
Common
Ground

Johannesburg

28 Jul - 25 Aug 2018

On Common Ground marks an historic moment as the work of two of South Africa’s most renowned photographers, David Goldblatt and Peter Magubane, are to be exhibited side-by-side for the first time.

With both photographers in their late eighties, this is a poignant moment to reflect on their respective legacies. Curator and photographer Paul Weinberg brings works by these veterans into direct conversation, using the gallery space to mirror major and lesser-known bodies of work that present Goldblatt and Magubane’s astute and distinct approaches to photography within the context of a shared pull to document apartheid South Africa and the post-1994 period of democracy.

‘I did not want to leave the country to find another life. I was going to stay and fight with my camera as my gun. I did not want to kill anyone, though. I wanted to kill apartheid.’

On Common Ground - David Goldblatt & Peter Magubane

Known for his ‘steely resolve [and] unrelenting gaze’ (Mail & Guardian), Magubane made his name as a photojournalist at a time when navigating South Africa as a black photographer was loaded with risk, exacting a heavy toll when he was detained and served 586 days of solitary confinement in 1969.

Whereas Magubane operated on the front-line – seeking to ‘defeat this animal apartheid’ and show the world what was happening by positioning himself amid violent protests and daring to point his lens at white South Africans, Goldblatt tended to focus his camera on quieter, yet equally poignant features of the apartheid regime.

In Goldblatt’s own words: ‘During those years my prime concern was with values – what did we value in South Africa, how did we get to those values and how did we express those values. I was very interested in the events that were taking place in the country not as a citizen but, as a photographer, I’m not particularly interested, and I wasn’t then, in photographing the moment that something happens. I’m interested in the conditions that give rise to events.’

According to Goodman Gallery owner and director Liza Essers: ‘This exhibition has been five years in the making. For me, Goldblatt and Magubane, while so different in their approaches, are two of the most iconic and important photographers of our time, particularly for their documenting of apartheid. By exhibiting them together for the first time, we present a unique journey through these photographers’ archives. On Common Ground also marks one of a small handful of exhibitions for Magubane in a gallery setting. Through this exhibition, we hope to address the historical oversight that Magubane has, in his lifetime, received such limited visibility in a contemporary art context.’

David Goldblatt

Hillbrow from Wheatlands, Commissioner Street, Jeppe. C 1968 , C.1968

David Goldblatt

Butch Britz, Master Shaftsinker, No. 4 Shaft, President Steyn Gold Mine, Welkom, 1969 , 1969

David Goldblatt

Spanner-man at the end of the shift, Western Deep Levels Gold Mine, Carletonville, 1970 , 1970

David Goldblatt

Wedding party, Orlando West , 1970

David Goldblatt

Gang on surface work, Rustenburg Platinum Mine, Rustenburg. , 1971

David Goldblatt

Walking the 'madam's' dog, Hillbrow , June 1972

David Goldblatt

George and Sarah Manyane, 3153 Emdeni Extension, Soweto , August 1972

David Goldblatt

Coal Merchant and his son, Soweto. 1972 , 1972

David Goldblatt

Ephraim Zulu watering his garden, 179 Central Western Jabavu, Soweto , 1972

David Goldblatt

Lulu Gebashe and Solomon Mlutshana, who both worked in a record shop in the city, Mofolo Park , September 1972

David Goldblatt

Meadowlands from Mofolo, Soweto, Johannesburg. September 1972 , 1972

David Goldblatt

Soweto: Miriam Diale, 5357 Orlando East, Soweto. 18 October 1972 , 1972

David Goldblatt

Children's class of the African Music and Drama Association, Orlando High School, Soweto , Nov 1972

David Goldblatt

Jehovah's Witness, Jabulani Stadium, Soweto , 1972

David Goldblatt

Cup final, Orlando Stadium, Soweto. 1972 , 1972

David Goldblatt

Drum majorette, Cup final, Orlando Stadium, Soweto. 1972 , 1972

David Goldblatt

The house-painter and his family, Pretoria Street, Hillbrow. January 1973 , 1973

David Goldblatt

In the Nugget Street Park, Doornfontein, Johannesburg. January 1973 , 1973

David Goldblatt

Untitled_, 1974

David Goldblatt

She said to him 'You be the driver and I'll be the madam,' then they picked up the fender and posed, Hillbrow. 1975 , 1975

David Goldblatt

Young men and a labour recruitment poster for the mines, Transkei. 1975 , 1975

David Goldblatt

Ozzie Docrat with his daughter Nassima in his shop before its destruction under the Group Areas Act, Fietas, Johannesburg , 1977

David Goldblatt

Yusuf and Ayesha Rajah at home with their baby before the destruction of fietas under the Group Areas Act , 1976

David Goldblatt

Funeral with military honours for two boyhood friends who went to school together in Boksburg, were drafted into the same unit of the South African Army, and who died in the same action against SWAPO on the Namibian-Angola border, Boksburg Cemetary. 18 June 1980 , 1980

David Goldblatt

Margaret Maroney: sentenced to R100 or 50 days imprisonment suspended for 3 years for living in this flat in a White Group Area, Orion Court, Bree Street, Johannesburg , 1981

David Goldblatt

Fifteen-year old Lawrence Matjee after his assault and detention by the Security Police, Khotso House, de Villiers Street , 1985

David Goldblatt

At the Summit Club pool on Claim Street, Hillbrow , 1971

David Goldblatt

Stevedore, Durban , 1953

David Goldblatt

On Twist Street, Hillbrow , April 1962

David Goldblatt

Child with a replica of a Zulu hut at the Voortrekker Monument, on the Day of the Covenant, Pretoria, 16 December 1963 (3_9248), Dec 1963

David Goldblatt

Steven with bus, Doornfontein, Johannesburg , 1960

David Goldblatt

Two men building a dam on the farm Drogedal, or Droedal, in the Marico Bushveld, near Nietverdiend, Transvaal , 1964

David Goldblatt

Flip du Toit on the stoep of his farm workshop at Abjaterskop, Marico Bushveld, Transvaal (North-West Province) , 1964

David Goldblatt

Picnic at Hartebeespoort Dam on New Year's Day, Transvaal (North-West Province) , 1965

David Goldblatt

Picnic at Hartebeespoort Dam on New Year's Day, Transvaal (North-West Province) /(B524), 1965

David Goldblatt

Johannes van der Linde, farmer and major in the local army reserve, with his head labourer Ou Sam, Near Bloemfontein, Free State. 1965 , 1965

David Goldblatt

Bodybuilding competition, Eyethu Cinema, Soweto, Johannesburg, 17 September 1972 , 1972

David Goldblatt

9.00 pm Going home: Marabastad-Waterval route: for most of the people in this bus, the cycle will start again tomorrow at between 2 and 3 am , 1984

David Goldblatt

Going to work: 2:45 am, the first bus of the day. There being almost no employment opportunities in KwaNdebele, these people travel up to eight hours per day to get to and from work around Pretoria, Mathysloop, KwaNdebele , 1984

David Goldblatt

Boarding the first bus at Mathysloop. It should reach the terminal at Marabastad in Pretoria two and a half hours later at 5:15 am , 1983

David Goldblatt

This is our new world. Read the morning newspaper for the new generation – Beeld, billboard, Braamfontein. October 1976 , 1976

David Goldblatt

The Republic Islamic Butchery amputated but still active. The Department of Community Development had demolished his neighbour’s part of the building and crudely boarded up the gaping hole thus produced. The building became infested by rats, but the Sahib family continued to live and trade there. At left and right are completed houses for whites. Hassimia Sahib was the last Indian trader in Fietas. He moved out later that year. 17th Street, 8 March, 1986 , 1986

David Goldblatt

South-east wing of a hostel for Black male workers erected during apartheid as part of a scheme to make Joburg city and suburbs white. Alexandra Township. 1 June 1988 , 1988

David Goldblatt

Abraham Thipe with one of his arrangements and his deckchair, Newtown, 14 August 1990 , 1990

David Goldblatt

Power Insulator, Shacks and Woman washing clothes, Xihlephwe, Alexandra Township, Johannesburg. 12 October 2006 , 2006

David Goldblatt

Saturday morning at the Hypermarket: Semi-final of the Miss Lovely Legs Competition. 28 June 1980 , 1980

David Goldblatt

Saturday afternoon in Sunward Park, Boksburg , April 1979

David Goldblatt

Pondo miners in their compound, Western Deep Levels Gold Mine, Carletonville, 1970 , 1970

David Goldblatt

Braiding hair on Bree Street, Johannesburg. 7 September 2002 , 2002

David Goldblatt

Circumcision initiate in the hut of the abakwetha, Transkei , 1975

David Goldblatt

'Boss Boy' detail, Battery Reef, Randfontein Estates Gold Mine, 1966 , 1966

Peter Magubane

Father and daughter. Parys, Freestate, c1980

Peter Magubane

Zionist Church baptism ceremony, Soweto, unknown

Peter Magubane

Abandoned children in an orphanage in Soweto, Unknown

Peter Magubane

An enterprising businessman in Diepkloof, Soweto, set up a trampoline for the children. They paid 2 cents for a given number of jumps, unknown

Peter Magubane

Sophiatown, early 1950's, c1950

Peter Magubane

Children have to be satisfied with simple toys in the Black areas of apartheid South Africa. A hoop made out of a bicycle wheel in Soweto, unknown

Peter Magubane

Concertina Player, Soweto, unknown

Peter Magubane

'Staffriders' are the young men who defy death by clinging to the sides of speeding trains, unknown

Peter Magubane

Two of South Africa's Nobel peace prize laureates, Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, join hands at Ipeleng White City, Soweto, c 2000

Peter Magubane

Ndebele musician Nothembi Mkwebani, who lives in Mamelodi North of Pretoria, performs on Women's day at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, on the anniversary of the Women's march to Pretoria in 1956, 2006

Peter Magubane

Today, modern images representing the realities of today's global society collide with the cultrual values of rural traditionalists, highlighting the complexities they must negotiate on a daily basis , unknown

Peter Magubane

AmaNdebele male initiates undergo their rite of passage ceremony, their transformation from boys to men. They are taught by the elders and live in seclusion. The elder or overseer of the initiates stands in front., unknown

Peter Magubane

Xhosa initiates (Abakahweta) leave their initiation shelter. They set fire to their initiation shelter, walk away and never look back thus turning their backs on their childhood and becoming men, unknown

Peter Magubane

Peter Magubane took this image in the summer rainy season in Edenvale while doing a story for the Rand Daily mail on the slums, 1966

Peter Magubane

Mrs Emily Moitsieloa a well-known music teacher, teaches a boy to sing and play the piano, Sophiatown, 1956

Peter Magubane

Horse drawn cart collects coal from the coal yards to deliver to houses in Soweto, c1980

Peter Magubane

Young coal yard worker, known as 'Coal Boys' Soweto, c 1980

Peter Magubane

Coal being prepared for collection in the coal yards of Soweto, c 1980

Peter Magubane

Young coal yard workers at night, c 1980

Peter Magubane

Police hippos patrol a roadway in Soweto to prevent the children from marching into Johannesburg city centre, 1976

Peter Magubane

Police van set alight by students, June 16, 1976

Peter Magubane

"The Young Lions", the students who wanted to stop Peter Magubane from photographing on the morning of June 16, 1976. Magubane explained to them "A struggle without documentation is no struggle." They agreed and issued an instruction that photographers and journalists be allowed to document the march, 1976

Peter Magubane

The notorious green car, contained police driving around Soweto taking pot shits at people in the street. Magubane followed behing them in car and took the picture through the windscreen of the car in which he was travelling, June 1976, 1976

Peter Magubane

An unfortunate casualty, Dr Edelstein mistaken for a government official, Soweto, June 16, 1976, 1976

Peter Magubane

Students run in all directions as police fire rubber bullets and teargas, Soweto, June 16, 1976, 1976

Peter Magubane

Police assist a pregnant woman during the uprisings, Alexandra, June 17, 1976 , 1976

Peter Magubane

Fighting bullets with stones. This young man was shot dead soon after this photograph was taken, Alexandra Township, 1976, 1976

Peter Magubane

‘Mogotla tribal courts’ also called Kangaroo court, Soweto, 1977. This vigilante justice system was established to punish such crimes as assaults and petty thefts , 1977

Peter Magubane

Police vans teargas students, Soweto, June 16, 1976, 1976

Peter Magubane

Mourners at Hector Pietersen’s funeral, June 1976, 1976

Peter Magubane

Miners who completed their eighteen month term of contract on the mines, wait for a train at Germiston Station. They were going back to their families in Lesotho, Germiston, , unknown

Peter Magubane

Mine recruits humiliated by being forced to strip naked for tuberculosis examination, Witwatersrand, 1968

Peter Magubane

Miner underground, unknown

Peter Magubane

The Treason Trial. Supporters join Nelson Mandela in song, Johannesburg, 1958

Peter Magubane

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela under house arrest at number 8115 Orlando West, Soweto, c1969

Peter Magubane

Nokukhanya Luthuli at her husband Albert Luthuli’s funeral. Luthuli’s funeral was attended by over 7000 people and was the first major public gathering since the ANC was banned in 1960, Groutville, 1968

Peter Magubane

Albert Luthuli returns to South Africa after receiving the Nobel peace prize, Johannesburg, 1961

Peter Magubane

Stretching into the distance are the coffins of the people massacred in Sharpeville, 21 March 1960, 1960

Peter Magubane

Black workers line up in to catch buses into the city, Diepkloof, Soweto, unknown

Peter Magubane

Child labour, potato farms. Magubane and a reporter were arrested soon after this for trespassing, Bethal, 1958

Peter Magubane

Forced removals, Sophiatown. Peter Magubane and his family were forcibly removed from Sophiatown to Diepkloof, Soweto, February 9 1955, 1955

Peter Magubane

Nanny and Child, Johannesburg, 1956

Peter Magubane

Grandmother and grandchild, informal settlement Krugersdorp, 2011

Peter Magubane

Japie Roberts; his daughter Antoinette and son Jan, with Rosina Morake. Auckland Park, Johannesburg, 2013

Peter Magubane

Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, 2014

Peter Magubane

Church service at an informal settlement, Krugersdorp, 2011

Peter Magubane

Grandmother sows grandsons pants, Pimville, Soweto , 1962

Peter Magubane

Little boy at outside tap was taken in Orlando West , Soweto in 1956. “ I like this picture very much it was one of my first good pictures that I took and to this day one of my favourites”, Peter Magubane, 1956