INVITATION: ‘Facing the Heat in South Africa’ Photography Exhibition

EXHIBITION FROM 4 MAR – 6 MAY 2026 | VENUE: ORIGINS CENTRE

Southern Africa is heating at twice the global average.
With the failure of the UN multi-lateral process to
rapidly phase out fossil fuels, the world has lost the
opportunity to prevent a 1.5°C overshoot. South Africa
and the region have to brace for 3°C of heating. The
country is completely unprepared for this post-normal
reality.
Through ten years of photographic documentation, this
exhibition and book brings into focus unfolding climate
shocks, injustice and resistance post a 1°C overshoot at
the global level. It furnishes powerful insights into the
structural drivers and complexity of climate extremes,
while foregrounding how the meaning of weather has
changed. The deployed photographic optic brings clarity
to the notion of climate risk in everyday life. Moreover,
this work, as a photographic archive, also provides
forensic evidence for how an uncaring and criminalised
political leadership, addicted to fossil fuels, is force
marching the country into climate disaster.
Ultimately the photographic medium echoes the
warnings of climate science but also amplifies the case
for climate justice solutions to secure a livable, just and
democratic future for all. As author and curator of this
exhibition, Vishwas Satgar, wrestles with the question:
what is photography’s role in these times of planetary
crisis? All are invited to view the exhibition.