This September, London’s David Hill Gallery presents the first UK exhibition of Drummies, Alice Mann’s award-winning series celebrating South African female drum majorette teams.
South African photographer Mann, is known for her collaborative approach to portraiture, emphasizing nuanced and empowered representations of her subjects.
Now based in London, she spent four years in her homeland photographing girls from schools in the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces.
Comprising single and group portraits with more candid portrayals of the girl's performances, Mann’s series is sensitive and filled with joy, showcasing the pride, confidence, and resilience of these young women, most of whom come from low-income communities where opportunities can be scarce.
Drummies won Mann the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize in 2018, marking the first time a series claimed the top award. It has gone on to garner international acclaim, earning the Grand Prix of the Jury for Photography at Hyères and a nomination for the Sony World Photography Awards.
This exhibition, produced in association with Afronova Gallery, Johannesburg, will mark the first time UK audiences can see this body of work, featuring previously unseen images that deepen Mann’s exploration of femininity and empowerment.
Drummies will be on view at David Hill Gallery from 20th September 2024.
More info via their website.
