Descriptions

Michelle Sank’s early experiences have strongly shaped her photography. “There is a lot of soul in South Africa that I try to replicate in my work.” South Africa’s vivid, tropical landscapes, and what Sank describes as ‘the
exoticism’ of different cultures and religions living together in South Africa, give her work a colour and exuberance that resonates even in her temperate subjects.

Growing up in South Africa during Apartheid and coming from a Russian immigrant family, Sank was keenly aware of marginal cultures. Frequently drawn to people who operate on the edges of society, her work often blends vibrancy with something more poignant. “ I find the spectacular in the normal, and I think this relates back to my heritage.”

Michelle Sank seeks out the extraordinary in the everyday. Her images express a fascination and wonderment about people in all their diversity. They are a celebration of life.

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