Michelle Sank’s portrait of four young girls enjoying the view at Sea Point Pavilion has been announced as one of the 10 category winners in the Sony World Photography Awards open competition. The photograph, part of her Ballade series, captures changes in Cape Town and South Africa since the end of apartheid. Although formerly a whites-only area, the pool and pavilion are now open to all and are popular with children and adults of different ages, ethnic backgrounds, and economic means. Sank, a native of Cape Town, describes the series as a poetic homage to her birthplace, which she had not visited for 20 years.
Sank’s strongest memories are of Sea Point Promenade and the Pavilion swimming pool, which were inaccessible to non-whites under apartheid. Ballade is a contemplative piece about change and timelessness. The sobriety of the young girls’ inflection is counterbalanced by the vibrancy of the background. Sank believes that ongoing segregation and racial inequality in South Africa pose dilemmas to true integration, with property prices remaining a critical barrier. She notes, however, that the Pavilion and Promenade bring together diverse groups of people, representing a microcosm of possibility and hope.
Michelle Sank’s portrait is part of the 2024 Sony World Photography Awards Winners collection, and the exhibition will take place at Somerset House in London between 19 April and 6 May. The ballade is a poetic form that presents a narrative, either literary or musical, that recounts a journey or a series of events. Ballade, Michelle Sank’s photographic series, is a poetic tribute to Cape Town, which she considers to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is a nostalgic and reflective series that also includes photographs of the beach and the mountain.
Sank, a Fulbright Scholar, began Ballade in 2014 when she returned to Cape Town for the first time in 20 years. By photographing Sea Point’s pool and promenade, Sank’s aim was to explore the broader theme of social change and the lessons that South Africa’s troubled history may hold for other countries. Sank’s powerful portrait is a poignant reminder that although historically, communities have been divided by nationality, race, or ethnicity, there is no reason why individuals from different backgrounds cannot come together to create a more inclusive future.
Sank’s work highlights the importance of shared spaces in creating a sense of community and promoting social integration. The Pavilion may be just one building, but it symbolizes hope and possibilities for South Africa’s future. Despite the legacies of apartheid and the challenges of existing inequalities, South Africa is making strides to become a more equitable and inclusive country, and photographs like Sank’s remind us that change is possible and that we can create a brighter tomorrow
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