Andile Bhala
Biography
Andile Bhala (Born, in Soweto, South Africa) lives and works in Johannesburg. Andile Bhala is a documentary photographer and commercial photographer. His work focuses on his upbringing while also reflecting on various communities within contemporary South Africa. He is driven by a deep passion to tell real stories with all their layered complexities.
Artist Statement
Photography has been a beacon in my life. The streets of Soweto with their bustling life, noise, smiles and legends in the making compel me to traverse this vast space in search of stories. My bicycle, music playlist, red backpack and lenses are my companions as I seek to see beyond the obvious, beyond the stereotypes. I document the truth with an unwavering belief in the power of the human spirit to overcome the mundane and the complex.
I defend Soweto when It’s in deep slumber. I believe in people and the simple aspects of Ubuntu in everyday life. Street photography allows me to observe and document life in all aspects of grandeur and the minutiae tenderness and joys of being. Through the camera, I seek to find myself and continue to learn from the streets. I’m drawn to moments that tell stories of the dualities and contrasts of life in Soweto. The rawness of the streets is integral to the work. I try not to manipulate the image. The reality in the image must not be lost. I challenge myself to see beyond the cacophony of the environment to capture its beauty.
My subjects have a story to tell, some tender and some harsh. My goal is to share a slice of Soweto in a positive way. If I can inspire a young boy to choose photography of drugs then my duty to Soweto will be meaningful. I want those who see my work to look more carefully at the world around them, to discover the beauty in the most unlikely places.
Solo Exhibitions 2019 One sugar no Milk, coffee fest, Cape town Castle
2021 One sugar Milk, coffee fest, Paris Le Centquatre
Group Exhibitions 2015 instagram exhibition up cycle Cape Town
2016 Runner up at Open Society Foundation “social justice through the lens
2018 uBudoda Market photo workshop
2018 uBudoda Market theatre art fair
2018 Finalist at Standard Bank Gallery
2021 Africa Photo Award
2022 God Moves, RMB, Art About Gallery
2022 NWN group show
2022 Thami Mnyele fine art top 100
