Young Lives in Seven Cities

Makhanda, South Africa, 22 Jun – 2 July 2023

The photographs in this exhibition have been created by youth from seven cities around the world: Christchurch (New Zealand), Dhaka (Bangladesh), London (United Kingdom), New Delhi (India), Sao Paulo (Brazil), Yokohama (Japan), and Makhanda (South Africa).

CYCLES is about listening to young people around the world talking about their everyday lives, including what they like about where they live, and what they might like to change. The research project under the direction of Bronwyn Hayward and Kate Burningham is exploring challenges and possibilities for young people to live flourishing urban lives in sustainable ways.

The exhibition also includes two short films, directed by Amanda Blue: Postcards to Makhanda and Postcards to Christchurch will be shown as part of the Walkabouts.

Having first showed in London, UK and in Christchurch, New Zealand, the exhibition has now been brought to Makhanda. Amazwi, the South African Museum of Literature, where the exhibition is on display, has drawn on its extensive collections to curate a selection of South African literature that roots this iteration of ‘cycles’ in the lives of the South African youth.