Santu Mofokeng Wins Inaugural International Photography Prize in Modena

The first edition of the International Photography Prize in Modena, with a jury chaired by Filippo Maggia, has awarded South African photographer Santu Mofokeng (Johannesburg, 1956) the top prize for his lifelong commitment to documenting black identity and community integration from Apartheid to the present. The exhibition "A silent solitude" at Foro Boario, curated by Simon Njami, showcases Mofokeng's black-and-white work, which eschews photojournalistic rhythm for a reflective, writerly approach. Series include "Townships," a twelve-year study of urban black suburbs; "Billboards," critiquing visual pollution in South African towns; "Child-headed households," portraying orphans of AIDS-stricken parents; "Train church," capturing spirituality on a commuter train; and "Chasing shadows," photographs of sacred caves. His research project "The black photo album/Look at me 1890-1950" compiles private photos from black working- and middle-class families. The under-40 prize went to Alessio Zemoz (Aosta, 1985) for "Lo vaco – il vuoto," an anthropological study of abandoned Val d'Aosta landscapes and family photographs. Both exhibitions run until May 8, 2016, at Foro Boario, Modena.