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Robert A. Hamblin

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Robert A. Hamblin
File:Robert A. Hamblin WikiPic.jpg
Born1969 (1969)
NationalitySouth African
Occupation(s)Artist, painter, photographer, author, gender activist.
Notable workinterseXion, Robert. A Queer and Crooked Memoir 2021
AwardsHouston Centre for Photography Fellowship (The Binary Farm), SA Kanna nomination Award (“when you feeling like a lady)

Robert A. Hamblin (born 1969) is a South African born visual artist, working mainly in photography and paint on paper. The work deals with tensions on the gender and sexuality spectrums of the contemporary human condition. InterseXion, a multidisciplinary exhibition and seven year collaboration with the Sistaaz Hood, a group of South African transgender sex workers, was staged at Iziko South African National Gallery in 2017. His autobiography Robert. A Queer and Crooked Memoir (ISBN: 9781928420972), was published in June 2021[1].

Early life and career

Robert A. Hamblin was born in Hillbrow, Johannesburg in 1969, and assigned female at birth. Discomforts with gender permeated his fine art work from very early and became a key subject by the time he transitioned from female to male in his thirties.

He completed High School in Alberton, Gauteng Province (Johannesburg region) in 1986, working as a freelance darkroom assistant and photographer for the final two years of his schooling.

After completing high school he worked as a commercial photographer in the theatre and performing arts fields. These platforms informed the working style of his fine art work, and shows clearly in his first publicly exhibited body of work, Millennium Man in 1998. Actors and sets were used to reflect narratives wherein gender identity was probed and became the visual narrative wherein Hamblin continued to work in the two decades that followed.  

In 2006, in his mid-thirties Hamblin started his gender transition from female to male. Subsequently in 2007 he helped found the African organisation Gender DynamiX[2], an organisation concerned with the rights of trans people, holding the position of Deputy Director responsible for Advocacy and media liaison from 2009 - 2011[3].

Today he continues both his art work and activism which have lead up to the release of his critically acclaimed autobiography in June 2021. During the first lockdowns of the Covid19 pandemic Hamblin started painting self portraits which have been exhibited in Cape Town and Johannesburg[4].

“Writing a memoir is a very exposing exercise. One is confronted with the tenuous nature of memory and truth and forced to choose a single storyline in one’s life that will feel succinct to a reader. This is a jarring process that made me long for the dualities that are able to exist in visual art practice. I landed in a cul de sac with my photography practice though. I found myself in the year of isolation - Covid 19."

Work

Photographer

Hamblin was a keen photographer from an early age. He bought his first camera and darkroom equipment by photographing male athletes at school and selling the photos to the girls. He began his commercial career as a newspaper editorial photographer for South African newspapers Beeld, Die Transvaler and Rapport from 1986 to 1991. At the age of 21 he started his freelance career as a commercial photographer in the theatre, television and editorial media where he worked from 1991 – 2010. Concurrently he developed multiple fine art bodies of photography works which were exhibited at South African galleries and art festivals.

Hamblin's first exhibition in 1993 was a study of well-known South African women including Nobel Laureate Nadine Gordimer, international opera singer, Mimi Coertse, actress and director Janet Suzman and author Doris Lessing.

In 1995 he took time off to care for his father who was dying of AIDS. This experience strongly shaped his later work, significantly The Inner Room[5], a focus on the vulnerability of masculine bodies. Millennium Man[6] was his next exhibition, taking a closer look at the confrontation between men and perceived notions of masculinity in a world that has become increasingly 'feminised’.

His last body of photographic work, interseXion, was a collaboration with black transgender sex workers which took seven years to produce, culminating in a solo exhibition at The Iziko South African National Gallery in Cape Town[7].

Artist

Hamblin has no formal art training or tertiary education other than twenty years of mentorship with 1953 Académie Ranson abstract painter Nel Erasmus. His art work focuses on issues of queer masculinity as a transgender person and he has exhibited both in South Africa and internationally. Hamblin's photography experience in television and the performing arts became strong influences on his work and were a source of inspiration for his early fine art paintings.

Author

Hamblin published his first book Robert: A Queer and Crooked Memoir for the Not So Straight and Narrow (ISBN: 9781928420972; Epub ISBN: 9781928420989) in June 2021, through NB Publishers[8] and Melinda Ferguson Books.

Awards

Exhibitions

Solo 

  • 2018 InterseXion Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town [11]
  • 2017 InterseXion Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg
  • 2017 InterseXion Johannesburg Art Fair, Johannesburg
  • 2017 InterseXion University of Free State Gallery, Bloemfontein[12]
  • 2017 The Colony University of Stellenbosch Art Museum Cape Town
  • 2016 Threshold International Young Photographers Festival, Daegu, South Korea
  • 2015 Daughter Language Lizamore & Associates Gallery, Johannesburg[13]
  • 2014 The Colony , University of Johannesburg Gallery, Johannesburg
  • 2013 “..When You’re Feeling Like a Lady..” University of Cape Town Centre for African Studies Gallery[14], African Gender Institute[15]
  • 2013 The Colony Aardklop National arts festival, Potchefstroom[16]
  • 2006 The Binary Farm Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Cape Town                         
  • 2006 The Binary Farm Aardklop National Arts festival, Potchefstroom
  • 2000 The Post Christian Open Window Art Academy,  Pretoria
  • 2000 The Post Christian Aardklop National Arts festival, Potchefstroom
  • 1998 Millennium Man Aardklop National Arts festival, Potchefstroom
  • 1998 Millennium Man Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Cape Town
  • 1998 Millennium Man Graphiti Gallery, Johannesburg
  • 1996 In a Different Light Private Studio, Johannesburg

Group

  • 2021 Abstrakt[17] Nel on Long Street Gallery[18], Cape Town
  • 2020 Paintings (Beyond Exhibition), Dawid Ras Gallery[19], Johannesburg
  • 2016 Daughter Language[20] (DF Group 1 Exhibition), Erdmann Contemporary Group, Cape Town
  • 2015 InterseXion (Queer in Africa Conference), The District Six Museum Homecoming Centre,  Cape Town (Collaboration with The Sistaaz Hood)
  • 2015 Daughter Language[21] (Lizamore & Assoc artist), Cape Town Art Fair 
  • 2015 Daughter Language (Break the Spell exhibition), Oude Libertas Gallery Stellenbosch, Cape Town
  • 2014 “when you feeling like a lady” (Nomad bodies exhibition), Antwerp University College of Artesis, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Belgium.
  • 2013 The Morality Monkeys (group exhibition), Dstreet Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa[22]
  • 2013 Nomad Bodies[23], Wintertuin Gallery, University College of Artesis, Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Antwerp
  • 2013 Tom Waits for No Man, KKNK & venues nationwide, South Africa
  • 2013 Five Photographers, Dawid's Choice Gallery, Johannesburg[22]
  • 2010 Swallow Your Pride[24], Blank Projects, South Africa
  • 2008 Legacy of Men, Johannesburg Art Gallery
  • 2006 Binary Farm (with Neo Ntsoma and Jurgen Schadaberg), University of Johannesburg Gallery
  • 2006 Round Table, ArtSpace, Johannesburg
  • 2006 Father (video), Out in Africa Film Festival & Hamburg LGBT Film Festival,
  • 2006 The Best of KKNK, Gordon Froud Contemporary, Johannesburg
  • 2004 Gender, (HCP fellowship award), Houston Centre of Photography, Rice University, USA
  • 2003 Inner Room (group), Aluvert, Johannesburg
  • 2002 Time Shift with Nel Erasmus, ArtSpace, Johannesburg

Collections

Gender Activist

At age 40 Hamblin transitioned from queer female in apartheid era South Africa to transgender male after the fall of the apartheid government. From 2007-2009 he was an instrumental founding member of the African organisation Gender DynamiX[25] holding the position of Deputy Director responsible for Advocacy and media liaison from 2009-2011. He is an avid defender, activist and advocate for the rights of transgender persons, using his own experiences to lend visibility to the struggle. "Most of us understand what being lesbian, gay or bisexual is all about, but being transgendered is an issue that still has to come out of the closet," he said.

After moving to Cape Town in 2010, he continued campaigning for transgender rights and in 2011 was a co-founder of a support group for transgendered sex-workers at a Cape Town non-profit organisation called SWEAT. During this time he developed his interest in gender theory within the context of human rights.

Organizational work

  • Iranti [26](transgender and lesbian focus) Board Chairperson 2019 - current.
  • Iranti (transgender and lesbian focus) board member 2016 - 2020.
  • The Sistaaz Hood Support Group for Transgender women sex workers. Founder member, volunteer consultant Sex Worker Education Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT): 2011-2020.
  • Gender DynamiX (GDX) Founder board member, board chairperson, advocacy manager, deputy director: 2006 - 2011.

Publications

  • New Museum/MIT Press “Representation and Its Limits”  Critical Anthology on Trans Cultural Production & the Politics of Visibility - 2017[27].
  • How poverty and gender inequality weave across a human body - Lucinda Jolly Business Day[28].
  • Art that explores fatherhood and transracial adoption - Dr. Richardt Strydom Mail and Guardian[29].
  • Amsterdam University Press: “Queer Visual Activism in South Africa” - Dr. Tessa Lewin[30].
  • The Aesthetics of Global Protest[31]
  • Wasafari Journal - “Prosody for a Queer Alphabet: Contemporary Performance Art Practices in South Africa”, Dr. Roelof Petrus van Wyk[32].
  • The Journalist: Thabo Thwala - “Intersexion: an exhibition steeped in transgender sex work”[33].
  • Cape Times - Confines of a Man[34].
  • Eyemazing Susan Annual Pictorial Vol.II - Lucie Award Winner[35].
  • Unisa Press “(Dis)Engaging the Gaze – Moving Images and the Lives of Trans Sex Workers” Dr. Ernst van der Wal[36].
  • Stellenbosch University Publications - Body of/in Work: Volatile Images and the Representation of Trans Sex Workers Dr. Ernst van der Wal[37].
  • Feminist Africa 14 Rethinking Gender and Violence 2010 [38]

Media

Website https://www.roberthamblin.com/



References

  1. ^ "NB Publishers | Robert". http. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  2. ^ "Gender DynamiX I Transgender and Gender Non Confirming Rights". GDXhome. Retrieved 2021-07-29.
  3. ^ "GDXStory2005-2015_Sankofa.pdf". Google Docs. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  4. ^ "Robert Hamblin | Queer Cartographies - New Shows - Shows". latitudes.online. Retrieved 2021-09-08.
  5. ^ "The Inner Room 2003". Robert Hamblin. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  6. ^ "Millenium Man 1998". Robert Hamblin. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  7. ^ "InterseXion | Iziko". www.iziko.org.za. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  8. ^ "NB Publishers | Robert". http. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  9. ^ "Houston Center for Photography – Dedicated to the art of photography". Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  10. ^ "Lizamore & Associates-ARTIST: Robert Hamblin - Sistaaz". Lizamore & Associates. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  11. ^ "InterseXion | Iziko". www.iziko.org.za. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  12. ^ "Intersexion: an exhibition steeped in transgender sex work". The Journalist. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  13. ^ stelsinkins (2015-06-23). "Solo exhibitions by Hamblin & Allerton-Davies". theluvvie. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  14. ^ "Centre for African Studies". www.africanstudies.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  15. ^ "African Gender Institute". www.agi.ac.za. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  16. ^ "Visual arts focus on land and the landscape at the Clover Aardklop National Arts Festival". LitNet. 0001-11-30. Retrieved 2021-08-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ philip (2021-02-26). "Abstrakt Group Exhibition at Nel Gallery". mapmyway. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  18. ^ "Nel". www.nelart.co.za. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  19. ^ "Robert Hamblin". www.dawidras.com. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  20. ^ "On Photography, Painting & Sculpture - Group Show". Contemporary And (in German). Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  21. ^ "Art that explores fatherhood and transracial adoption". The Mail & Guardian. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  22. ^ a b "MARIE STANDER » D-Street Gallery – The Morality Monkeys". www.mariestander.co.za. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  23. ^ "Nomad bodies 2014". Elfriede Dreyer. Retrieved 2021-08-03.
  24. ^ ArtFacts. "Swallow My Pride | Exhibition". ArtFacts. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
  25. ^ "Gender DynamiX I Transgender and Gender Non Confirming Rights". GDXhome. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  26. ^ "Iranti – LTI media advocacy organisation". Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  27. ^ Clarke, Phoebe (2018-05-17). "Trap Door: Trans cultural production and the politics of visibility". Critique d’art. doi:10.4000/critiquedart.29151. ISSN 1246-8258.
  28. ^ "How poverty and gender inequality weave across a human body". BusinessLIVE. Retrieved 2021-08-05.
  29. ^ "Art that explores fatherhood and transracial adoption". The Mail & Guardian. 2015-07-02. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  30. ^ https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339096737_1_Queer_Visual_Activism_in_South_Africa
  31. ^ "The Aesthetics of Global Protest" (PDF). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  32. ^ Wyk, Roelof Petrus van (2019-04-03). "Prosody for a Queer Alphabet: Contemporary Performance Art Practices in South Africa". Wasafiri. 34 (2): 38–48. doi:10.1080/02690055.2019.1576972. ISSN 0269-0055.
  33. ^ "Intersexion: an exhibition steeped in transgender sex work". The Journalist. 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  34. ^ http://www.roberthamblin.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/hamblinCapeTimes.pdf
  35. ^ "Post". EYEMAZING. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  36. ^ https://ernstvanderwalcom.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/Ernst-van-der-Wal.-2017.-Body-ofin-Work-Moving-Images-and-the-Representation-of-Trans-Sex-Workers.pdf
  37. ^ "Body of/in Work: Moving Images and the Representation of Trans Sex Workers | Gender Questions". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  38. ^ http://www.agi.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/429/feminist_africa_journals/archive/14/fa14__entire_journal.pdf
  39. ^ Books, Exclusive, Episode 3 - Robert Hamblin, retrieved 2021-08-12
  40. ^ Schimke, Karin (2021-06-20). "A Queer and Crooked Memory: 'We are all petrified.' An interview with Robert Hamblin". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  41. ^ "Author Robert Hamblin talks about his gender affirmation surgery and new book". Jacaranda FM. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  42. ^ "You don't just transition one day, female to male, in a bubble says author". CapeTalk. Retrieved 2021-08-12.
  43. ^ Book Review | Robert - "A Queer & Crooked Memoir For The Not So Straight or Narrow", retrieved 2021-08-13
  44. ^ "Voices of the body". The Mail & Guardian. 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
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