Ballade

Elliott Gallery is proud to present:

Ballade

A Poetic Homage to Post-Apartheid South Africa

by Michelle Sank

8th February - 25th April 2025

at Elliott Gallery | Tussen de Bogen 91 | 1013 JB, Amsterdam

REVISITING HERITAGE: Multiple award-winning photographer Michelle Sank pays homage to South Africa’s flourishing post-Apartheid society upon returning to her birthplace, Cape Town

Michelle Sank’s Ballade series documents the vibrant fabric of Cape Town’s emblematic Sea Point Promenade, offering an exploration and celebration of its rich socio-economic, racial, and gender diversity. Through her deeply evocative portraiture, Sank highlights the fundamental interplay of identity, place, and community while painting a compelling narrative of the Promenade’s not only historical, but autobiographical significance.

As one of Cape Town’s popular public spaces, Sea Point Promenade and the adjacent Pavilion Pool serve as a unifying backdrop that connects Sank’s individual subjects to space, community and culture. Sea Point’s rich history and evolving social fabric, from a racially segregated urban area during apartheid to a vibrant, multicultural neighbourhood in the post-apartheid era, have transformed the space into a central meeting point for both residents and visitors alike. As Sank reflects; “For many, [the Promenade] with the Pavilion Pool is their sanctum, the public space they don’t have in private due to cramped living conditions or general pressures and continued life challenges in S.A”

Beyond its historical significance the Promenade also holds autobiographical importance for Michelle Sank. Having grown up in Cape Town in an immigrant community during Apartheid, she left after completing her studies, only to return decades later. Through her work, Michelle pays tribute to South Africa’s post-apartheid social diversity, present in Sea Point as well.

“Ballade is a poetic homage to my birthplace, Cape Town. My strongest memories are of the Sea Point Promenade in Cape Town and its accompanying Pavilion swimming pool [...].. The pool, the walkway, the beaches and the green areas continue to serve as stage sets within which diverse performances unfolded.“

Michelle Sank’s photography is often centred around topics of socio-economic diversity, and the exploration of the pressures and hopes of young people living in suburban and coastal towns. In Ballade, just like in her other projects, Sank’s deeply personal and empathetic approach to her subjects results in an intimate portrayal of each individual she photographed. Through this lens, the images simultaneously capture the inner Self of the subjects and preserve the deep connection between them and their environment, highlighting the reciprocal relationship they share.

Moreover, Sank’s unique non-judgemental and inquisitive gaze is apparent in Ballade’s portraiture. The photographs in this exhibition focus on the young visitors and residents of the Promenade, capturing a spectrum of raw human emotions – from awkwardness to confidence, vulnerability to strengths, and the love and connection shared within the groups portrayed. To achieve this, Sank places great importance on building a trusted relationship with her subjects and creating a safe environment where they can fully express themselves, both on and off camera.

Michelle’s deep respect for her heritage and her unwavering optimism is at the heart of her work. Ballade vividly captures a flourishing community, showcasing South Africa’s rich cultural landscape and dynamic spirit.

Michelle Sank

Michelle Sank was born in South Africa and settled in the UK in 1987. She cites this background of growing up during Apartheid and being the child of immigrant parents as informing her interest in sub-cultures and the exploration of contemporary social issues and challenges. Her crafted portraits meld place and person creating sociological, visual and psychological landscapes and narratives. Known for her work on youth culture, her practice has expanded into long term projects documenting communities and cultures in depth.

Sank undertook a BA Fine Art Degree at The Michaelis School of Fine Art in Cape Town where her work was picked up by David Goldblatt who became a lifelong mentor. In leaving South Africa in the late 70’s she had a big gap in her career redefining her practice after many years when she completed her MA in 2001.

Sank has exhibited and published internationally, including the USA, Finland, Belgium, Germany, Canada, The Channel Islands, Mexico, Australia, Hong Kong, South Africa and The Netherlands and her work is held in key private and permanent collections worldwide including the Open Eye Gallery, Liverpool, The Museum of Youth Culture, UK, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, UK, Southeast Museum of Photography, Florida and The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas. Throughout her prolific career Michelle Sank has won countless awards in numerous prestigious competitions to include the Taylor Wessing Prize, British Journal of Photography, Head on Foundation, IPA awards and The Juliet Margaret Cameron award. She was recently a winner in The Portrait of Britain and in 2024, she won in the Portraiture Category of the Sony World Photography Awards and has been awarded The Royal Photographic Society’s Honorary Fellowship in recognition of a significant personal achievement in photography.

Michelle Sank has published a numerous books to date, including “Becoming”, “The Water’s Edge”, “The Submerged”, and her latest, “Burnthouse Lane” published by Dewi Lewis, 2024.

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