Disguise: The art of attracting and deflecting attention

In popular culture, the archetypal disguise is Superman's pair of glasses, which turn him into Clark Kent. This particular case reveals something: often that which is disguised is hidden in plain view. Everyone familiar with the movies or comic strips has wondered, at some point, why Lois Lane does not recognise that her two love interests are one and the same. The implications of outward appearance are amplified in the case of Africa and its diaspora because of the historical significance of skin colour. Perhaps as a result, there is a profound engagement with disguise in the work of many artists with links to the continent. Disguise brings together artists from South Africa, the continent and beyond who investigate the processes of attracting or, conversely, deflecting attention, exploring threads of pageantry, trauma, drag, political pretence, fashion and stealth.