Nelson Mandela Bay
South-Africa, 2023
Giclée print on Hahnemühle FineArt Pearl paper.
Size 30x20 cm without white border.
A unique, one-off print in size 50x33 cm of this photo is available at the auction evening in society de Kring, on November 28, 2024. More information on this page.
Siviwe Sneyi (22) and his friends, in a loaned car, at a night out in Zwide township in Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, South Africa, on the 13th of December, 2023.
As the upcoming elections approach, Siviwe's sentiments echo the frustrations shared by many young South Africans.
"I'm excluding myself from South African politics because of the corruption in political parties," he asserts. He expresses a lack of confidence in the system, convinced that even voting for a new party won't break the ANC's longstanding grip on power.
For Siviwe, finding a job is the primary goal, but the path is riddled with challenges. "I don't have any other plan than looking for a job," he says, highlighting the financial aid struggles faced by students like him.
The job market paints a grim picture as Siviwe details the struggle many face. "Most people's degrees go to waste because there are no job opportunities," he laments. Unemployment pushes some toward drugs and alcohol, exacerbated by the lack of recreational spaces apart from clubs. Despite meeting qualifications, the job market proves daunting, emphasizing the influence of personal connections.
Siviwe sheds light on persisting racism and inequality. "Racism is here, and it is still going on. It feels very unfair, because as a black man I feel I have less chances to succeed in this country," he acknowledges. He also states that he believes that governments focus on urban areas and by doing so overlook the townships and rural areas, perpetuating inequality.
Ilvy Njiokiktjien is a photojournalist, filmmaker, podcast host and educator who has been creating and sharing stories for almost twenty years. Based in Utrecht, the Netherlands, she is represented by VII Photo Agency and is a Canon Ambassador.
Njiokiktjien is committed to documenting the social and political issues that shape our world. Her work is characterised by a sensitive eye and a compassionate and personal relationship with her subjects.
For twelve years, she documented the first generation of post-apartheid South Africa. Njiokiktjien was intrigued by these young adults and portrayed them in her own personal and intimate style. “Equality is there on paper, but a majority of young people believe that white South Africans still have better opportunities because the legacy of centuries of inequality is still there.” The result is the project Born Free – Mandela’s Generation of Hope, which has resulted in a documentary, an interactive website, a book, editorials and a travelling exhibition.
She is increasingly invited to give masterclasses, lectures and extensive teaching programmes for young professionals. Clients include National Geographic, the International Center of Photography (New York), the VII Foundation and Canon. Njiokiktjien studied at the School of Journalism in Utrecht. She spent part of this period abroad at Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa. She acquired her skills in photography largely through experimentation and with the help of generous colleagues. From the beginning, contemporary social issues have been central to her work. Her own background, growing up in the Netherlands as a child of Dutch and Chinese-Indonesian parents, undoubtedly plays a role in her keen eye for the sometimes hidden issues of identity and injustice.
Since 2017, Ilvy has been represented by VII Photo, an international collective of leading photojournalists dedicated to exposing and reporting on issues around the world in the field of photography and multimedia, and has been a Canon ambassador since 2012. She is the first woman to win the Dutch Silver Camera. Award for Photographer of the Year and was named the very first Photographer Laureate of the Netherlands in 2013. In addition to numerous awards from international organizations such as World Press Photo and POYi, Njiokiktjien's images have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, National Geographic, The Guardian, Stern, Der Spiegel, TIME and other major media. She has exhibited at Visa pour l’Image in France, Photoville in New York and in museums and festivals around the world.
Ilvy Njiokiktjien
The photo prints are printed in one batch every two weeks, at the beginning and middle of the month. You will receive an email when your order has been shipped or can be picked up.