Mikhael Subotzky's Artistic Practice Explores Power Dynamics Through Tape Transfer Technique
South African artist Mikhael Subotzky employs a distinctive sticky-tape transfer method in his visual art practice to examine power imbalances. For more than ten years, he has applied adhesive tape to inkjet prints, lifting pigment to create new composite images. His work addresses both societal issues like colonialism and apartheid legacies in South Africa, as well as personal themes including family relationships. Subotzky's multifaceted practice also includes film, painting, and performance, with recent works featured in the Magnum exhibition 'Ukuzilanda, Homegoing' in 2023. His artistic approach involves deconstructing and reconstructing imagery to challenge perceptions of documentary photography and explore memory.
Key facts
- Mikhael Subotzky uses a sticky-tape transfer technique to create composite images from photographs
- His work examines power imbalances related to colonialism and personal relationships
- Subotzky's practice includes photography, film, painting, and performance
- Recent works were displayed in the Magnum exhibition 'Ukuzilanda, Homegoing' in 2023
- The artist's methodology began developing after 2004 when he first experimented with physically altering photographs
Entities
Artists
- Mikhael Subotzky
Institutions
- Magnum
Locations
- Cape Town
- South Africa
- England
- Australia