I am excited to begin my residency at NOOR as it enables me to explore a different perspective on photography by unlocking creativity and self-expression through storytelling.
Amsterdam, Netherlands (11 September 2022) – An alumnus of South Africa’s dynamic Thokoza photography programme is one of a select number of artists who have been chosen for a residency at the prestigious NOOR photo agency in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Sibusiso Bheka is an “Of Soul and Joy” project assistant and talented artist who has been represented by the Afronova Gallery (Johannesburg) since 2020 and now has the opportunity to share his work with the globe as he takes up residency at NOOR.
“I am excited to begin my residency at NOOR as it enables me to explore a different perspective on photography by unlocking creativity and self-expression through storytelling,” says Bheka.
Born in 1997 in Thokoza, Bheka joined the Of Soul and Joy project in 2012 and graduated in photography from the Vaal University of Technology in 2018. His work has been shown many times in South Africa and internationally (International Festival of Gand, Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg Art Gallery, Addis Foto Fest, Bamako Encounters, Cape Town Art Fair, Constitution Hill, amongst others).
In 2018, he was a finalist for the Photography and Social Justice grant of Magnum Foundation and was nominated in 2019 for the CAP Prize.
The NOOR residency is a tailor-made programme for Of Soul and Joy photographers. It allows the participating photographers to meet and benefit from mentorship by renowned agency photographers. The community of NOOR photographers educate selected emerging artists and gain insight into Amsterdam’s culture and cultural identity through visiting several photography-related institutions.
NOOR is an Amsterdam-based, international agency for documentary photography and visual storytelling. The NOOR Foundation focuses on creating opportunities for visual education and capacity building in ethical visual journalism and documentary practices. The creative developmental entity launched in 2007 as a platform for its members to take financial control over their work and leverage the power of a group in a changing media landscape.
The NOOR foundation and agency work with multiple international clients, collaborators and partners. As a collective of industry leaders, the sought-after creative growth destination produces work for large media companies and small start-ups, institutional clients and non-profits.
Photographers Kadir van Lohuizen and Sanne de Wilde from NOOR photo agency will mentor Sibusiso Bheka and say, “We welcome Sibusiso Bheka to our programme and look forward to sharing meaningful learnings and perspectives with him.”
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