Images build bridges between beliefs

Bridges is a travelling exhibition that examines the rich diversity of spiritual and religious practices in both South Africa and France’s Reunion Island. At the same time, it is also a celebration of a 15-year-old collaboration between documentary photographers Andrew Tshabangu and René-Paul Savignan.

The pair met in 1996 at the Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial in Mali. After finding many parallels between their work, Savignan explains, they decided to collaborate using a unique method.

“We agreed to always take photographs at the same time and place in our respective countries. In visiting each other’s countries we were then able to connect with our own respective histories and cultures, as well as revising our awareness of our own spirituality. It was the start of both a photographic project between two photographers, as well as a collaboration between two friends.”

Tshabangu agrees that the creative partnership quickly blossomed into a great friendship.

“We instantly felt a brotherly connection, and over the years that bond has only grown stronger. When he was here in South Africa, it made sense for me to accompany him because of my knowledge of South African languages and cultures. When I visited Reunion Island he did the same for me. In the process I got to know René-Paul not only as a great photographer, but also a good cook, a kind person, and a very hard worker.”

According to Savignan, the collaboration also gave him the chance to do some soul searching. “I did not simply want to document or compare the religions of our two countries. I was more interested in how spiritual rituals manifested themselves differently here than in my country. With Andrew I had the chance to become familiar with South Africa and discover myself. What I learned from this relationship is that we both were seeking the same things in life.”

Savignan’s work explores the complex range of religious beliefs found on Reunion Island, due to a long history of inhabitation by people of diverse ethnicities.

“Reunion Island can be considered a laboratory of the meetings of civilisations. The diversity of religious beliefs connect people rather than divide them.”

At the same time – back in South Africa – Tshabangu examined the many ways in which Christianity has been interpreted and experienced by Africans.

“The religious ceremony is a critical vehicle through which the community and the individual communes with the creator and with nature. In my body of work, I am portraying Christian practices from an African perspective. I am also expressing the passion for a brand of faith steeped in both the Western Christian doctrine and African religions. This brew of spirituality is rooted in the heart of African communities.”

Bridges comprises 80 black and white photographs selected from thousands of images captured over the years. Together, says Tshabangu, they explore and document the most fundamental of human needs: the expression of spiritual longing through communal ritual.

“We each picked about 500 images that we felt worked well with each other, but also formed a cohesive narrative. Of course this was a long process, and also featured input from the show’s curator, Nathalie Gonthier.”

When they finally found the right combination of different considerations, Savignan remembers, the brutal selection process started.

“We had to edit out many images so that the exhibition would fit into the space. It was frustrating as we wanted to show a bit of everything. We had to make a balance so that the viewer would have the time to look at each image properly. As a photographer my aim is not to explain the subject in an exhaustive manner. I try to create a story.”

l Bridges runs at the Durban Art Gallery until January 27 as part of the French Season in South Africa.