Former George Washington University art students, from left above, Gabriel Seder, Ryder Haske and Tyler Perry organized a seven-week trip to South Africa to chronicle the stories of other travelers and locals they interacted with against the backdrop of one of the largest sporting events in the world, the World Cup. Their photography, video and writings are on display at the university’s Luther W. Brady Art Gallery in an exhibit called “South Africa Kicks” through Dec. 17. How did you blend together your varying talents as artists?
Seder: I think it kind of happened naturally. Over the course of planning the trip and during the trip itself, we all brought our own skills to the table in terms of what we were studying, what we were comfortable with.
What made the World Cup such a great cultural event to cover? Perry: The best part was being in the country itself. It was the first time going to Africa for all three of us, and we went there not really being very big soccer fans. … Just to experience the country framed by the World Cup was a positive experience.
Is there any part of the exhibit you’re particularly proud of?
Haske: On this trip we really had no plans for accommodation, and we found some really terrific people, one of which was Johann Smith, who we actually lived with for three weeks in Johannesburg. And because we were living with him, we were able to document the relationship that he had with his domestic servant. It brings up a lot of moral and ethical questions that came to us in South Africa, and it’s great to be able to share that with an American audience , who don’t really think of having domestic servants in a way that they have in South Africa.” – Ben Giles
