PHOTOGRAPHIC STATEMENT
In January 2016, I moved into a flat in a student building located in Maboneng, a neighbourhood in Johannesburg, South Africa. The summer holidays in South Africa are at the beginning of January and so the building was almost empty upon my arrival. Soon after, young workers, interns and students began to move in. Loud music and over-night parties soon started, they stopped me from sleeping.
I soon realised that I was lucky to be living with this generation: the so-called ‘born free’ generation of South Africa. I wanted to know more about them. Were we different? Were they actually similar to the youths of France? Do we have the same wishes, the same dreams?
That’s how everything started. I knocked on the doors in my neighbourhood and asked them if they were interested in participating in the project, a project which would attempt to portray the South-African educated youth.
I decided to photograph them inside of their bedrooms to capture their intimacy. I wanted them to be as natural as possible, without any masks. Before posing, I asked them to write their biggest dreams in a little notebook. I believe dreams are very special; everybody has dreams, especially students and young students who are on the verge of starting their own lives.
The youths of South Africa are very emblematic as they were the cornerstone of the fight for freedom during Apartheid. Nowadays, they still claim more equality and more rights in a society where the white minority remain the economic elite. Just like the youths of Europe, they worry about their future and they dream of a better world.
« My dream is to make a difference in the world by creating oppotunities for young designers particularly in fashion. »
SNE
« My biggest aspiration in life is to own my own jewellery brand that would also produce accessessories as well. I would like my brand to be known not only in South Africa but worldwide. My other dream is to be a diamond cutter and polisler. The two dreams will work hand by hand and will both make me feel complete one I achieve them. »
TSHEGO
« I'd like to build a house for my mom, then someday, have a school where we could achieve free quality education especially for the poor. Also, my dream is to, hopefully, stand on my own as an independant entreuprener, and be selfemployed. Finally, I'd like to become a good father, to have two kids with a beautiful woman called Natedi Lilliam Legkoathi »
LONGA
« I dream of having a successfull fashion designing brand that will help me to build my life. It would be ideal to me and my brand to have a lifestyle market that will sustain my brand and serve as a platform for my customers to socialize. It will be known as the Fresh Fashion Market. »
ITUMELENG
« I have several goals but the most important one or the one I'd like to see happen is having started my own family and living happily. Now, I want to achieve my Charted Management Global Accounting Qualification that I am currently studying. But the biggler plan/dream is to build an empire with and for the people or should I say a
ressourcefully powered empire. »
CLINTON
« My dream or goal in life is to have my own jewellery company or store. For my personal life, I'd like to have
adorable kids and a loving husband in order to be truely happy to a point where I'd be completely in peacce. »
LYDIA
«I don't like to call it a dream but the perfect life I see soon. My wish is to be an interior designer and to have have my own company that will first design for communities and spread out to studios and companies. I'd like to design interior furnitures as well. Then hopefully the world could see my world through my eyes. »
TISETSO
« My ultimate dream is to be happy. I'd like to live my life to the fullest, to experience different countries, cultures and adventures. I believe that the only way to live is to be happy. I feel alive when I am happy and my spirit is lifted. »
BOITUMELO
« I'd love to open a coffee shop and make it as a franchise. I worked as chef for over two years and my knowledge and experience has allowed me the oppotunity to know exactly how I want everything to be : the entire menu and set up are already drafted in my head. »
WANDILE
« I dream to have my marketing warehouse. »
TEBOGO