In his series “Ghosts”, South African artist Ralph Ziman draws inspiration from the arms trade and the civilians that are killed as a result of it. In the series, Ziman explains, “I had six Zimbabwean artists use traditional African beads and wire to manufacture several hundred replica beaded guns like AK-47s, and several replica beaded general purpose machine guns (GPMGs), along with ammunition. Upon completion, beaded guns were the subject of a photo-shoot in crime ridden downtown Johannesburg.” The resulting photographs are visually bold and intimidating through the use of a cool, foreboding color palette that draws the viewer in while also creating an uneasy feel.
text by Canbra Hodsdon
