Exhibition Type: Solo Exhibition
Artist: David Goldblatt (Presented by Norval Foundation)
Venue: Aspire Art Auctions
Address: Mandela Rhodes House, 21 Church Street, Cape Town
Opening: 03 September 2026
Exhibition End Date: 26 September 2026
David Goldblatt (1930–2018) was one of the most influential South African documentary photographers and is best known for documenting life under apartheid. Growing up in Johannesburg as the child of first-generation immigrant parents, his photography stemmed from an awareness of discrimination and social injustice. As a professional photographer, he documented both Black and White South Africans in their homes, workplaces, and landscapes, revealing the profound impact apartheid had on all aspects of life.
The On The Mines series started in the 1960s, when gold mining was still a dominant force in the South African economy. Goldblatt grew up around Randfontein and the Witwatersrand, which meant that mines were not an unusual sight for him, but rather part of daily life. They shaped towns, labour patterns, migration, and the broader social and economic structures of South African society. Through this series, Goldblatt explored the mining industry not only as a place of work, but as a system that fundamentally influenced the development of the country and the lives of those within it.
The On The Mines series forms part of Norval Foundation’s Homestead Collection, reflecting the institution’s commitment to preserving and sharing significant works of South African and African art. As a museum dedicated to championing African artistic heritage and making art accessible to diverse audiences, Norval Foundation places education at the centre of its mission. Through exhibitions, public programmes, and learning initiatives, the Foundation seeks to foster a deeper understanding of art and its relationship to history, identity, and society.The Photography Festival theme of TRUTH is powerfully represented by this profound series.
Goldblatt’s photographs offer an honest and thoughtful examination of the realities that shaped South Africa, encouraging viewers to engage critically with the country’s history and the enduring legacy of the mining industry.
