I am a mature documentary photographer.
I refer to W Eugene Smith’s quote “…and each time I pressed the shutter release it was a shouted condemnation hurled with the hope that the picture might survive through the years, with the hope that they might echo through the minds of men in the future – causing them caution and remembrance and realization.”
My lens expresses a love of life and celebrates the individual.
And, at once, questions the status quo.
I am a strong advocate for equal rights and have always been an activist for social justice, the rights of the vulnerable and black empowerment in South Africa. My work gives a space for each individual to assert themselves and their presence in the world
Photography functions like poetry, navigating beauty, tension, dissonance and tragedy effortlessly.
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EXHIBITIONS
2023
Sunny Side Up, Group exhibition, Graham Contemporary, Johannesburg, South Africa
Group Exhibition, “Where we live”, SouthxSouthEast gallery, USA
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2022
Group Exhibition “New Day”, Graham Contemporary, Johannesbnurg
Solo exhibition “Remains of the Visible”, Nelson Mandela University
Bird St gallery, Gqeberha.
Solo exhibition, “We Should All Be Feminists”, GFI gallery, Gqeberha
Group exhibition “The Collection of the City 2022”, Nelson Mandela
Metropolitan Art Museum, Gqeberha. (The work purchased by the
Museum permanent collection)
Group exhibition, “Mix Tape”, Artec, Gqeberha
Group exhibition, “103rd Annual Exhibition” Artec, Gqeberha
Group exhibition, “Its a Dog’s life”, curated by Elizabeth Avedon, USA
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2021
Group exhibition, Sasol New Signatures finalist, Gauteng
Group exhibition, Africa Photo Awards finalist, Gauteng
Group exhibition, Mix Tape, Artec , Gqeberha
Group exhibition, “Essential Water”, Photoplace Gallery, USA
Group Exhibition, “Mothers”, SouthxSouthEast gallery, USA
Finalist exhibition “Home from Home” Life Framer. curated by Marion
Tande, Museum of Modern Art, USA.
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2019
Group staff/student exhibition Nelson Mandela University, Gqeberha
Group staff exhibition Bird Street Art Gallery, Gqeberha
2007
Group postgraduate exhibition, The Red Location Museum, Gqeberha
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My fine art documentary photographic work has been purchased for private collections in Cape Town, Gqeberha and Gauteng South Africa, Belgium, Australia, Amsterdam, London, New York, Virginia, Florida and Colorado, USA.
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I am profoundly interested in my photographic work as a tool for social change. Until recently, I worked as a Visual Arts lecturer at the Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I completed my Masters in 2016 and am undertaking a Doctorate. This body of work has been photographed in my immediate shifting environments, in individual's homes and in the game reserves of Southern Africa. Alongside, I have done award-winning design work for environmental and social non-governmental organisations as part of my contribution to the world.
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Email me at margot@mweb.co.za
Published work
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Invited by Mamphela Ramphele to do a short visual photographic essay for her book Steering by the Stars, 2002.
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Editorial and advertising photographer, The Argus newspaper. (Jan 1986 – Feb 1988)
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Editorial photographer, The City newspaper. (Mar 1988 - Jan 1989)
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Portraits of Sir Laurens Van Der Post for the Evening Standard newspaper, London.
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Numerous published images as Lead Photographer and Advertising & Publications Manager, Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. (Feb 1989 - Dec 1993). Images for poster series celebrating V&A Waterfront with designer Nick Rens.
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Award winning photography and design for Valley Trust publication (1995)
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Image chosen for yearly calendar of the European Union. (1996)
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Images featured in publications regarding Political Opinion Leader Programme, People and Parks project, Magqubu Ntombela Foundation, Imbewu, International Journal of Wilderness, National Parks, Umzi Wethu youth development, Covid education and Earth Rich sustainable planting initiative. (1996 - 2020)
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Images selected for interiors of Longlee Manor, Shamwari Game Reserve and Elephant House lodges and Hippocampus design agency
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Contributing photograph in Wildlife Photographers United book Remembering Rhinos
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Featured in SouthxSoutheast magazine, an American online publication that specialises in fine art, documentary, and illustrative photography, in the May/June 2020 issue with the theme ‘Mothers’.
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‘100 years, Knowing the Unknown series’ photograph selected as one of the winners in the international Life Framer competition with the theme ‘Home from Home’ (May 2021, USA).
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Excerpt from Mature Woman series in lead story of SouthxSoutheast an American online publication that features fine art, documentary, and illustrative photography (June/July 2021 issue, USA)
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PhotoPlace Gallery’s exhibition catalogue, “Essential Water”, USA. Juror Wendi Schneider, September 2021
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Finalist in Sasol New Sigantures award 2021
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Finalist in Africa Photo Awards 2021
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Featured in Art Times November 2021, "The Muttering World: Margot Muir's photographs" by Ashraf Jamal.
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Featured in Art Times July 2022, "Photographing time: The middle ages" by Ashraf Jamal