Artists: Zana Masombuka - Benji Reid

October Gallery presents selected photographic works by South African artist Zana Masombuka, which brings together compelling works from different series deeply rooted in her Ndebele culture. In the gallery's second space, a Spotlight is placed on poignant works by award-winning photographer Benji Reid.

Zana Masombuka exhibits significant photographic works from different series which explore stories about identity, culture, modernity and ritual from the perspective of a 21st-century Ndebele Woman. This dynamic presentation features selected works from Nges’rhodlweni: A Portal for Black Joy, Ubonani: What Do You See?, Time: Gadesi S'khathi, Proudly South African, Namba S'khambe and her recent series, Akhulumile Amabhudango: Scenes from Dreams – ‘Journeys with Kosabo’.

Highlights include works from Nges’rhodlweni: A Portal for Black Joy, which are inspired by the sacred gathering space within the Ndebele household where generations come together through art, storytelling and shared experience. This communal site fosters a connection to the Enas (spirit), nurturing joy, knowledge and cultural continuity. Also exhibited are works from Ubonani: What Do You See?, Time: Gadesi S'khathi, Proudly South African, and Namba S'khambe. Set within the rocky landscapes of KwaNdebele, Ubonani explores the symbolic power of red through natural earth pigments and dramatic lighting. In Masombuka’s series, Time: Gadesi S'khathi, lemons, become metaphors for the passage of time and the transmission of generational knowledge. Her works from Proudly South African examine youth identity through national symbols, while Namba S'khambe critiques institutional power, capitalism and inequity.

In her recent series, Akhulumile Amabhudango: Scenes from Dreams – ‘Journeys with Kosabo’, Masombuka’s ever evolving practice combines the mediums of photography and sculpture to create fascinating photographs surrounded by an intricate beaded frame. ‘Journeys with Kosabo’ pays homage to Masombuka’s late grandfather– as the artist journeys with him through her dreams, she reflects on themes of kingship, ascension and ancestral guidance. Layered onto the photographs, the beadwork honours the enduring significance of Ndebele beading, a centuries-old visual language historically used for communication, while reimagining its role within a contemporary artistic practice. The exhibition brings together a powerful body of work that examines perception, memory, spirituality and the enduring relationship between land and ancestral knowledge.

Benji Reid considers himself a Choreo-Photolist; a term he coined to encapsulate his unique practice where theatricality, choreography and photography meet in the image. In July 2023, he premiered Find Your Eyes, a highly acclaimed performance that brought dancers and photography into the fold to create images in real time in front of his audience. The successful show was presented at the 60th edition of Venice Biennale in 2024, then continued on tour around the world, including performances at Sadlers Wells, London in 2025.

Reid’s breathtaking photographs, composed primarily of self-portraits in incredible, anti-gravitational poses with a medley of props, draw the audience into a different dimension. In the hyper-realities he presents the subject as liberated by acts of the artist’s imagination. Whether exploring life as an outsider, issues surrounding mental health, or complexities of fatherhood, Reid makes the audience part of the discussion. These sublime and sensitive images draw from his well of life experiences, explore vulnerability, tragedy and triumph through the photographer’s lens.

Exploring inner and outer landscapes, the two exhibitions richly layered imagery investigate realms brimming with imagination and emotion.