‘My Oranjemund’, a community photography exhibition, opens tomorrow at the Beronnies’ in Oranjemund and will remain open to the public for the duration of the 2023 Diamond Festival.
For the 2023 Diamond Festival, former and current residents of Oranjemund were invited to submit photographs of places in and around the town they treasure in response to the questions, ‘Which areas of Oranjemund or the surrounding areas bring you joy every time you go there?; ‘Which place brings you peace and means most to you?’
The responses were diverse and joyful, with amateurs, hobbyists and professionals using everything – from cellphone cameras to high-end equipment – to capture and share their favourite parts of the town.
With 74 photographs on display, it is clear the residents of Oranjemund find value in a wide diversity of places.
Aerial photographs of the suburbs, the golf course and the river mouth provide a charming overview of the town, with photographs of the beach, the river banks and the dunes competing for prominence.
Many people chose to submit photographs of interior scenes – like a cosy living room, a radio presenter’s place of work, an event at the community centre and a visit to the Jasper House museum.
Alongside the much-loved and iconic Oranjemund Oryx, we are also presented with photos of owls, pigeons, pets and seabirds.
Another prominent feature of the photographs displayed is the recurrence of various pieces of public art that were produced as part of the ‘Art Can Transform Project’, initiated by OMDis Town Transformation Agency. This project started in June 2021 and saw the town transformed through the addition of public sculptures and murals.
This year’s Diamond Festival will run from 2-6 August under the theme ‘Creating a sustainable future through economic diversification’, and it is a wonderful opportunity for tourists and locals alike to come together and celebrate all that Oranjemund has to offer.
This community exhibition provides local Oranjemunders with the opportunity for reflection and self-recognition while also providing tourists with the rare opportunity to see the more intimate and personal aspects of the town from insider perspectives.