Zanele Muholi is an artist who deals with the marginalization and discrimination of LGBTI (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Intersex). Muholi photographed self-portraits and South Africa’s LGBTI community as a political visual statement and an archive. Since January 2021, they (pronoun for Muholi) also create some portrait paintings and post the works on their Instagram account @muholizanele.
#protect_yourself and those around you. 2021.01.14: South Africa. by Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of Artist. Instagram account @muholizanele
Muholi’s portrait paintings are powerful and reflective images. One of the works is Muholi’s self-portrait that gives a sharp stare towards the viewers. Muholi wears a green face-masks, a blue hat, and black clothes in yellow background. The intense and warm colors on this image deliver Muholi’s passion and criticism.
Another self-portrait painting depicts Muholi’s profile in red-dark colors. They look directly at the viewer. This picture seems to dare the viewer, “have you done justice to all humans?”.
“Aphumelela”, 2021.01.18: South Africa. Painting No. 6/31. by Zanele Muholi. Courtesy of Artist. Instagram account @muholizanele
Through the artworks, Muholi challenges the common prejudice that says homosexuality and transgender are un-African. Muholi also celebrates non-binary people and trans women to defy stereotypes and taboos.
Muholi’s works show that identity is not a fixed thing. LGBTI’s identity can also be changed. Muholi’s photographs and paintings are incredible, because they can distribute power to transform the discourse of the LGBTI community, towards greater humanity.