Title: Play it again Location: Puros, Kunene Region, Namibia Series: The Indigenous Project
1. Storytelling
In the dusty heat of the Kunene region, where civilization often feels infinitely far away, lies the small, remote settlement of Puros. It is here, in the middle of “nothing,” that one finds the biggest surprises. The text on the image, “What you find in the desert…”, heralds just such a moment.
In front of the local ‘bottle store’—the village’s social hub—everyday life suddenly broke into a party. Three Herero women stepped forward before the artist, not as shy subjects, but as proud performers full of confidence and humor. They are dressed in their characteristic Ohorokova dresses; voluminous, Victorian-inspired outfits worn with a dignity that defies the desert’s dust and heat.
These dresses are more than just clothes; they are a historical statement. Originally imposed by German missionaries, the Herero women have reclaimed the style and turned it into a symbol of their own survival and cultural pride. With their horn-shaped headwear paying homage to cattle, and their infectious laughter, they transformed the space in front of the car into a stage. The title “Play it again” is an echo of the joy that arose in the encounter—a call to let the moment last.
2. Catalog Text
The work “Play it again” documents a spontaneous and energetic encounter in Puros, Namibia. The motif shows three Herero women who, with great agency, pose in front of the artist’s vehicle. The image is a study in contrasts: The harsh, monochrome desert background is set against the women’s explosive colors and sophisticated textiles.
The women wear the traditional Herero costume. The long, layered dresses and the iconic Otjikaiva hat (shaped like horns) tell a story of cultural resilience. The Herero people have managed to take colonial aesthetics and reshape them into an expression of matriarchal power and identity.
The work breaks with the classic notion of the “primitive” tribal people. By including elements like the modern car, GPS coordinates, and handwritten text, the image is anchored in a contemporary reality. It is not a relic of the past, but three modern women enjoying life at a bottle store. “Play it again” refers to the cyclical nature of joy and music, emphasizing the work’s focus on vitality rather than nostalgia.
3. Curatorial Evaluation
Work: Play it again
Analysis: In “Play it again,” the artist moves away from the observing gaze and into a participatory interaction. The subjects—the three Herero women—are fully aware of the camera and command the stage with a theatricality that challenges the viewer. They become co-creators of the work rather than passive objects.
The composition is characterized by “visual noise” in the form of text and graphics that deliberately disrupt pure landscape photography. The text “What you find in the desert…” acts as a teaser, fulfilled by the women’s unexpected elegance amidst the wilderness. The curatorial approach lies in highlighting visibility. Where marginalized groups are often overlooked, these women insist on taking up space—both physically with their dresses and symbolically with their attitude.
The work comments subtly on globalization and local grounding: The QR code and coordinates digitize the place, while the women’s attire tells a specific, local story about surviving and thriving despite the passage of history. It is a work about human resilience wrapped in a colorful expression of life.