David Goldblatt: Intersections

In this generously illustrated monograph the renowned South African photographer David Goldblatt explores the aftermath of Apartheid in and beyond Johannesburg. In the past decade David Goldblatt’s documentary photographs of his native country have gained worldwide recognition for their intimate, unflinching views of a culture ravaged by prejudice and injustice. Since 1999 Goldblatt has focused primarily on large-format color works: land- and cityscapes that capture not only the country’s fragile social structure but also its beautiful vistas and vibrant hues. Intersections is the first complete volume of Goldblatt’s color work to date. His urban images dwell on the ostentatious developments mushrooming in and around Johannesburg as well as scenes of the everyday life of people who make their living within the city. His rural images capture the seductive vastness of the landscape, the damage done to the land by the mining industry, and the dignity of the people living on the land. His photographs capture the contrasts that represent South Africa: white and black, rural and urban, desperate and hopeful. They mark the emergence of an important new phase in the work of a photographer who, living among his subjects, uses his art to make sense of these very contradictions.