The South African city of Johannesburg was founded on the wealth that came flooding in from a gold rush beginning in 1886; the discovery of one of the world’s richest gold reefs had miners and the accompanying frontiersmen and woman quickly swelled the area’s tiny population to a size of over 100,000 inhabitants in less than 10 years. But the mines which employed so many and created the fortunes of a few left a terrible legacy. Six billion tonnes of waste from these mines was dumped outside the city’s poorer areas during their active lives, and it’s estimated that 400,000 people now live surrounded by the man-made mountains of waste.
Tales From the City of Gold is British photographer Jason Larkin’s study of life in these inhospitable and impoverished areas – harrowing and beautiful in equal measures. Larkin lived in Johannesburg for two years, during which time he ventured deep into the wastelands seeking the reality of life on the outskirts, part of a great metropolis but ultimately isolated by geography and socio-economic problems. The Kingsland Road branch of Flowers Gallery is exhibiting the collection until 29 March.
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Jason Larkin
Pressurised water
Krugersdorp, Johannesburg, 2013
Jason Larkin
A break during panning
Roodepoort, Johannesburg, 2012
Jason Larkin
Children at home
Delmore, Johannesburg, 2012
Jason Larkin
N8
Soweto, Johannesburg, 2010
Jason Larkin
Commercial rubbish dump City Deep,
Johannesburg, 2010
Jason Larkin
Mike Dwjela, after his evening prayer
Boysens, Johannesburg, 2010
