Medium: Paper Size: 210mm Technique: Digital print; Synthetic hair Edition: Unique
Theme(s): Black women; Hair; Trade
Place publication: Johannesburg Publisher: The artist Exhibition 2017
Reference note: Amidst the buzz of Johannesburg CBD, one cannot miss the groups of women hairstylists each having their open-air mobile studio comprising of a chair and advertising boards depicting types of hairstyles they offer. Woza Sisi is a photo series exploring how women street hairstylists negotiate, navigate and shape the complex demarcated trading zone. It looks into ways in which the women position themselves; how they use and negotiate urban spaces.
This network forms a community of women sharing ideas, skills and helping each other when clients' hair needs to be completed urgently. Visibility is important for the hairstylists; they have to call potential clients in a persuasive way - woza sisi, woza uzobona, woza nice. They are, also, expected to be patient, polite and understanding. It is important for the hairstylists to have satisfied clients and be able to produce value at a minimal cost. Building relationships is fundamental to growing their clientele. Business is normally scarce as the hairstylists are often locked in a tight competition for customers.
Woza Sisi aims to uncover a group of women street hairstylists' urban experience and explore their relationship with the city of Johannesburg and the economy.
Black women street hairstylists negotiate trading zone
210 x 148mm
Artist as sole producer
Exhibition notes: ‘Booknesses: Contemporary South African Artist's Books’.