Lebohang Kganye has been awarded the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize 2024 for her exhibition titled "Haufi nyana? I've come to take you home." The prize, amounting to £30,000, was presented on Thursday at a ceremony held at The Photographers' Gallery in London.
Kganye, hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, created "Haufi nyana?"—which means "too close?" in Sesotho—a work that explores themes of home, belonging, heritage, and identity. The exhibition critically examines South Africa's past, particularly the impacts of apartheid and colonialism, using an array of silhouettes and cut-out figures of her family made from old photo albums.
Clare Grafik, acting director of The Photographers' Gallery and chair of the jury, highlighted Kganye’s innovative approach. "Her use of photography brings together past and present through deeply personal stories of her own family," Grafik stated.
The exhibition was initially showcased in 2023 at Foam in Amsterdam. At The Photographers' Gallery, it is displayed alongside works by other shortlisted artists: Valie Export, Gauri Gill & Rajesh Vangad, and Hrair Sarkissian, until June 2, 2024.