Wherever you are in the world, it is important to never forget where you came from. Daniela grew up in a small town in the semi-desert of South Africa, which was in the final stages of apartheid during her teenage years.
Even though the photographer is now living in Berlin, she goes back home as often as she can to visit family and to work. Daniela has always kept a strong connection to her old school, “I often photographed the older kids for different projects and I’m fascinated by the changes that have come about since the end of apartheid”.
South African schools are very sports-oriented, about her period at school Daniela says, “I remember there were parents who wouldn’t allow their children to play sports against our school if there were black children on the team.” By casting students from her old school as models and putting them in Adidas clothes, she seems to comment on this memory of her childhood. A diverse ‘sports-team’ illustrates the progress the country has made and forms the right ingredient of a happy ending to a South African story.
South African schools are very sports-oriented, about her period at school Daniela says, “I remember there were parents who wouldn’t allow their children to play sports against our school if there were black children on the team.” By casting students from her old school as models and putting them in Adidas clothes, she seems to comment on this memory of her childhood. A diverse ‘sports-team’ illustrates the progress the country has made and forms the right ingredient of a happy ending to a South African story.
