The eponymously titled solo exhibition has been presented in prestigious institutions such as Gropius Bau in Berlin, the Bildmuseet in Umeå, the Institut Valencià d’Art Modern in Valencia, and the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris.

Encompassing the full breadth of Muholi’s career to date, the exhibition’s adaptation to the Serralves Museum features a selection of new photographs – including portraits taken in Lisbon and Porto of local members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The exhibition was helmed by Inês Grosso, curator-in-chief, and Filipa Loureiro, curator, in collaboration with architecture studio Ventura Trindade and production coordination by Giovana Gabriel.

With more than 200 photographs, this represents the largest retrospective of their career so far, and also serves to introduce Portuguese audiences to their work. Besides offering a broad overview of Muholi’s practice, the exhibition revisits key moments in the history of South Africa, from the dark years of Apartheid to the continuing struggle for equality and human rights.

Grosso notes: “In Portugal, where our colonial legacy continues to be profoundly ingrained in society, this exhibition offers us a unique opportunity to reflect critically on the historical and cultural implications of discrimination and oppression, while reminding us of the urgent need to debate issues such as gender and cultural identity, collective memory and social justice.”

The exhibition will be accompanied by a programme of talks exploring the artist’s work in greater depth and how it reflects upon Portuguese society. To this end, the Serralves Museum has also collaborated with local organizations, including ILGA and Casa Odara, to develop a diverse range of public events that will complement the exhibition.

The museum acquired one of Muholi’s photographic murals in 2023, which was shown to the public for the first time at the inauguration of the Álvaro Siza Wing.

Grosso says: “This acquisition, more than just another addition to the collection, demonstrates the museum’s commitment to not only their work, eminently reconcilable with the institution’s programming of the last few years, but also the social and cultural issues raised therein. Zanele Muholi is a singular voice in contemporary art and social activism. Their work actively engages with prejudice and discrimination, inviting us to reflect on the urgent need for a more inclusive and equitable society. We hope this exhibition also inspires fresh perspectives and much-needed dialogue on such matters as equality, resistance and our own humanity.”