In April 1996 an extraordinary process began in South Africa. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission, under its chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu, held its first public hearings to investigate over thirty years of human rights violations under apartheid. The Commission had been founded in the belief that truth was the only means by which the people of South Africa could come to a common understanding of their past, and that this understanding was necessary if the country was to forge a new national identity in the future. In the first two years more than 20,000 victims made statements to the commissioners and, encouraged by the possibility of amnesty, some 7,000 perpetrators came forward to confess their crimes.”

This exhibition tells some of their stories. It is unique in that, through Jillian Edelstein’s photographs, it puts faces to the personal testimonies of both victims and perpetrators. In the most direct way it documents one of the most important experiments in democratic justice attempted in the 20th century.

Jillian Edelstein’s photographic work has been published and awarded internationally. She has published two books, Truth and Lies and Here and There: An Expedition of Sorts. Her book Affinities will be published in 2026. She has completed two feature documentaries, one is yet to be released.

Special Events
Exhibition Opening Party
Thursday 30 October 6-8pm

Tour and talk with the artist
Saturday 8 November 2-3pm

Special Sunday opening
Sunday 9 November 12-4pm

“Can you combine justice with forgiveness?”

Free