Lavender Hill isn’t often associated with art or heroes. Its name is usually framed with crime, statistics and hardship. But, a movement is changing that, one photograph at a time!
Cape Town (02 June, 2023)—On First Thursdays in Cape Town, the city comes alive. Walks of life meet on the same path, sharing ideas, the love of discounted wine and of course, a sense that we are all in this new month together.
Most art galleries open their doors for a little longer. Restaurants are more generous with their offerings, and people tend to let down their guard—joining together in dance, art and hope.
This will be our month.
On Bree Street, a well-loved art gallery gives the most popular clubs a run for their money, brimming with dance and community. The art always gives you something to think about long after you leave—origami artist JooJ and That’s Ash teamed up to create ‘Glued to the Classics’ and all eyes were quite literally glued to the reimagined pieces.
But, something about the lesser known artists and photographers tends to stick with you just as much. Last night, it was a collection of works by Rise Above Development.
On the third floor, a series of blown-up photographs caught the attention of most onlookers. Something about their honesty challenged exaggerated artworks. Something about all of them felt familiar and lesser known simultaneously.
The people in the photographs were the everyday heroes and role models of Lavender Hill. An area so often associated with crime in headlines and word-of-mouth conversations, many Capetonians have been told to forget that there’s more to the story.
Creators, future sports heroes and community role models were all captured just as they are. Photography students who held cameras for the first time caught these moments in. It was as beautiful as it was unfortunate that Cape Town and South Africa at large, don’t get to see these sides more; If only mainstream media would let us.
The movement #warelavenderhill is self-described as a project to “showcase the real people of Lavender Hill, led by Rise Above Development, a new youth centre, sports facility and community garden in the heart of the area.
As the rationale shared, the goal is to change perspectives, challenge narratives and remind us all that there are so many lives, good lives and good people, amid the challenges—South Africa in a nutshell.
“There is no beauty but the beauty of action.”—RAD.
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