The La MEP - Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the Gervanne + Matthias Leridon collection and the Cité internationale des arts are pleased to announce the name of the recipient of their new residency dedicated to young African photography: Thero Makepe.
Thero Makepe
Thero Makepe is an artist and photographer born and raised in Gaborone, Botswana, working between Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Gaborone.
His photography practice is informed by past, and present narratives related to my upbringing and lived experiences in Botswana and South Africa. Thero is interested in posing questions about one’s personal responsibility in times of crisis and how the personal decisions of individuals affect themselves, their families, and their nations.
His work is often resolved in the form of book projects which contain existing public and private archival material such as family photos, documentary screenshots, and newspaper articles. He also employs a variety of photographic styles such as staged portraiture, documentary, and re-enactments. Moreover, he is also a founding member of the Botswana Pavilion, a collective of young artists from Botswana concerned with advancing Botswana’s creative development and artistic archive.
The MEP - Collection Gervanne + Matthias Leridon - Cité internationale des arts residency will be an opportunity for Thero Makepe to deepen their photographic practice and to develop their personal projects while benefiting from the artistic and cultural dynamism of Paris.
The MEP residency – Gervanne Collection + Matthias Leridon – Cité internationale des arts
The MEP - Maison Européenne de la Photographie – Collection Gervanne + Matthias Leridon – Cité internationale des arts residency aims to support young African creation, to highlight artistic practices that explore new forms of photography and to promote the mobility of artists so that they can share their work and enrich their professional and artistic network. The winner will benefit from a three-month residency at the Cité internationale des arts, in a live-in studio located in the heart of Paris, and from a privileged artistic and professional support from the three partners.
Thero Makepe will be in residency from March 3 to May 26, 2023 at the Cité internationale des arts.
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