ERNEST COLE アーネスト・コール

House of Bondage (1967) by Ernest Cole was one of the first publications to expose the reality of apartheid to the world. Crucially, it was the first lens into the Black experience by a Black photographer.

Born in 1940, Cole became one of the first Black photojournalists in the country, working covertly to capture everything from mine labourers to domestic workers, as well as the state of transport, education and health systems. He took on assignments for DRUM and The New York Times, all the while shooting for House of Bondage.

In 1966, Cole fled South Africa for New York. He published House of Bondage the following year, and as a result was permanently banned from his country. Today, the book remains one of the most influential and profound documents of apartheid, and is credited with unmasking its true atrocities to the world.

This exhibition will feature photographs, magazine covers and personal notes written by Cole himself. It follows the structure of the photographer's original book, divided into 15 thematic chapters. Presented in Japan for the first time, this monumental show will offer a unique opportunity to experience the unflinching honesty of Cole's lasting legacy.