The exhibition, thoughtfully developed through a participatory approach in collaboration with the dedicated activists and professional workers from groundWork, offers a profound exploration of the organisation’s rich and impactful history alongside its partners over the past 25 years. This exhibition invites attendees to delve into a comprehensive and dynamic archive featuring a diverse array of documentary photography, evocative posters, striking banners, informative publications, films and artefacts, which includes reports, affidavits and a range of correspondence. These elements vividly illustrate groundWork’s pivotal campaigns and highlight their substantial contributions to shaping South Africa’s socio-political landscape and pursuing environmental justice.

Curated by Vaughn Sadie, drawing from the extensive resources of groundWork’s archive, the exhibition is a powerful testament to community resilience, activism, and advocacy in the complex backdrop of post-Apartheid South Africa. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience compelling narratives and hear the authentic voices of those passionately engaged in environmental justice, shedding light on the struggles and triumphs that have defined this journey.

Lead Image Caption: Engen Oil Refinery is South Africa’s oldest oil refinery, commissioned in 1954. It ceased operations as an oil refinery in December 2020 after an explosion at the ageing facility damaged both the plant and the surrounding neighbourhoods of south Durban.