Berni Searle
Côte d'Ivoire | Photography, Mixed Media
Her work often explores themes of trauma, memory, and healing, blending photography with embroidery to create deeply personal and reflective pieces.
Exhibitions
"Berni Searle: Interlaced"
2006 - Michael Stevenson Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa
A solo exhibition featuring Searle’s photographic and video installations that explore themes of identity, race, memory, and history. Her work often reflects on the complexities of living in post-apartheid South Africa.
"Authentic/Ex-Centric"
2001 - 49th Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Group exhibition where Searle’s work was included as part of the African Pavilion, showcasing her exploration of identity, race, and the body, particularly in the context of South Africa’s colonial and apartheid history.
"States of Grace"
2008 - Musée d'art contemporain de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
A solo exhibition that focused on Searle’s video works, exploring themes of transformation, displacement, and the fluidity of identity. The exhibition highlighted her innovative use of multimedia to address social and political issues.
"New Photography 2011"
2011 - Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA
Group exhibition where Searle’s photographic series were featured alongside other contemporary artists, focusing on the use of photography to explore personal and collective histories.
"Desire, Conflict, and the Complexities of Vision"
2010 - Tate Modern, London, UK
Group exhibition that included Searle’s work, addressing themes of desire, conflict, and vision in contemporary art. Her contributions focused on the interplay between race, gender, and identity in a globalized world.
"Shifting Selves"
2013 - Stevenson, Johannesburg, South Africa
A solo exhibition where Searle’s work continued to explore the fluidity of identity and the impact of historical narratives on contemporary life, using video, photography, and installation to engage viewers with complex social themes.