Tjiueza’s Golela opens at The Project Room
Golela – an exhibition by Ericke Tjiueza – opens at The Project Room on 28 June.Nestled in the heart of Namibia's diamond mining territory, the remote town of Oranjemund offers a unique and surreal existence. The arid desert landscape, juxtaposed with the vast ocean expanse, highlights the power and fragility of the natural world. In this isolated town, escapism is a prevalent theme, often manifesting through the local pastime of drinking.
A defining feature of Oranjemund is the miners' distinctive attire—balaclavas. These serve as practical necessities for diamond mining and symbolise anonymity within this transient community. Reflecting the town's utilitarian ethos, where material abundance is scarce and only a few establishments cater to basic needs, these balaclavas stand as a testament to the resilience and resourcefulness of its inhabitants.
Through the OMDis Residency, an annual month-long programme for visual artists based in the Southern African Development Community, Namibian photographer, filmmaker and visual artist Ericke Tjiueza delved into Oranjemund's themes. Inspired by the town's sense of escapism and the miners' balaclavas, Tjiueza collaborated with local craft artists to create face masks using recycled materials such as rusted tins and discarded beer cans found along the Orange River.
These masks, infused with the spirit of the region, became artistic expressions of the community's resilience and resourcefulness.
"The balaclavas inspired me to reflect on the role of face masks in African culture," Tjiueza explains. "Although African face masks and miners' balaclavas may appear distinct, they share similarities in their symbolism and significance. Both serve as potent symbols of identity, spirituality, and community, transcending their material forms to convey deeper meanings and connections within their respective contexts."
From this exploration, Golela emerged—a collection of photographic works that offer a profound commentary on the human condition within a remote mining town. Drawing from African folklore, Golela references a mythical manlike creature that hides in the shadows, embodying the fears and resilience of Oranjemund's people.
In many African traditions, masks are believed to possess spiritual pathos, serving as conduits between the physical and spiritual realms. Similarly, the balaclavas worn by miners in Oranjemund, while not imbued with supernatural powers, hold spiritual resonances, acting as shields against the harsh environmental conditions of the mines.
Tjiueza's photography captures the utilitarian ethos of Oranjemund, reflecting a life where material abundance is scarce, and weather conditions are harsh.
The exhibition can be viewed until 26 July.