Katleho Lesige is an up and coming photographic artist who hails from the dusty mining town of Meloding, Virginia.
Katleho embodies different concepts in his photography, and describes himself as a social photographer. He photographs people, but with a clear message in each of the diverse portfolios he creates in his photo stories.
“I identify a subject and then I take the photograph. The photograph has a message, and I convey this message through my photography. I interview my subject before I take the photograph. Then I research my subject and his or her story, and then I compile my Artists’ Statement or ekphrasis.”
Katleho, now based in Bloemfontein, studied Graphic Design at the Motheo College, and completed this course in 2020.
He is now studying textile design at the Central University of Technology (CUT), Free State in Bloemfontein, though photography remains his passion.
“I started photography in 2017. I will use my formal qualifications to earn my bread and butter, but my passion keeps me alive,” he says.
He says he can educate others with his photographs. “My studies of people will bring about immediate recognition and effect. People will see and people will know,” he says.
“My photographs shed light on our times with how people identify and progress in their realities.”
He recently took part in the Phatsoane Henney New Breed Art Competiton with his photographic story Surviving Lefatse.
This work depicts the story of Mamello Nkile who was burned by her ex boyfriend.
The photograph of a severely burned Mamello shows her scars that came about after a gruesome attack.
The photograph not only addresses gender-based violence (GBV), but also refers to post-traumatic stress disorder and its impact on communities.
“Mamello also grew up in Meloding, and the people in this small mining town believe it is alright to beat up women and kids. They think fighting is fine to solve arguments and vendettas. Talking is for cowards and little boys. I have seen more moments of violence than of love, more deaths than parties and more funerals than weddings because of this belief system that’s in Meloding,” says Katleho.
He says Mamello grew up in this environment with him, as did the man who burned her so badly.
“We were exposed to the same conditions and this image is a reflection of our community’s imperfections and wrong thinking pattern,” he says.
Katleho says with photography what you see is the truth.
Even the plain brown frame that surrounds this thought-provoking image has meaning.
“I chose this frame because it is often used in my community to frame inspirational certificates and photographs of important family members, dead or alive, and also for public figures. I chose to change its common use to serve a new artistic purpose where it frames the harsh imperfections and realities of our community and the taboo conversations that we are avoiding as people,” he says.
