Vuyo Mabheka: Popihuise
About The Book
The Afrikaans word “pophuis“ refers to a dollhouse game familiar to children. Vuyo Mabheka builds the Popihuise series based on this game, using cutouts from rare childhood photos of himself. He creates interiors and scenes where he appears, sometimes accompanied by imaginary friends — represented by people from his community whom he has secretly photographed, and sometimes in the presence of a fantasised and faceless father figure. The series features a few core elements: drawings, collages, and photographs, coexist in a seemingly naïve and tender universe. Publisher’s Info
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About The Artist
Vuyo Mabheka was born in 1999 in the rural town of Libode in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Today Vuyo Mabheka lives in Thokoza, Johannesburg. In 2017, he discovered photography through the Of Soul and Joy project – a creative platform that aims to provide the township’s youth and its surroundings with professional skills in the field of photography.
Vuyo Mabheka is the recipient of the 2023/2024 Images Vevey Special Jury Prize. He is represented by Afronova Gallery, Johannesburg. Popihuise is Vuyo Mabheka’s first book.
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About The Publisher
Chose Commune is a French independent publishing house based in Marseille. It curates, edits and produces artists books with a focus on photography and works on paper. Chose Commune is directed by Cécile Poimboeuf-Koizumi, cofounder with Vasantha Yogananthan.
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Specifics
Vuyo Mabheka: Popihuise (Chose Commune, 2024). Concept, editing and sequencing: Cécile Poimboeuf-Koizumi. Design: Cécile Poimboeuf-Koizumi, in collaboration with Perrine Serre. 56 pages. 20,3 x 27,5 cm. French / English. Link.
