Art Exhibitions

30 November 2024

In this Master’s exhibition, Sarah-Jean Viljoen reimagines the female hero through photo comics, blending strength, resilience, and vulnerability within characters often overlooked or stereotyped in mainstream media. By using the photo comic medium, Viljoen explores nuanced storytelling, character expression, and subversive archetypes, offering a fresh perspective on femininity.
This body of work revives the lost art of photo comics from 1995, bringing it into 2024 with a new story, Bishop and Crane. Viljoen challenges conventional ideas of heroism by presenting women whose strength lies not in capes or superpowers, but in their resilience, empathy, and determination to uplift others.
Viljoen’s work highlights female protagonists navigating issues like gender-based violence, societal limitations, and the pursuit of freedom. It invites viewers to reconsider heroism as an act of radical self-acceptance and courage, encouraging the idea that anyone can be a hero.
Ultimately, Viljoen aims to celebrate unsung female heroes, creating a utopia where they are not anomalies, but celebrated figures in the world of photo comics.

THE VIEWING ROOM ART GALLERY

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