info@georgemahashe.co.za

info@defunctcontext.com

Mahashe works around the field of photography and museums, particularly at the intersectionof artistic practice/research, archives, and afterlives of anthropology. His research takeskheloveduas a central idea, drawing on its capacity to complicate ways of knowing,practicing, and encouraging trans-disciplinarity.His currentproject manifests as the research platform‘––defunct context’whichengages thesynergy and collaboration between art, science, technology, and Indigenous KnowledgeSystems. Mahashe’s latest Monograph ‘—defunct context: Ambivalence to important work’(2023)explores the artist book and its assembly as a process of inscribing his archive ofpractice as a physical dreamscape. The book consolidates 15 years of workaroundphotography and the camera obscura; the refiguring of an anthropology museum; the turn toindigenous knowledgessystemsto confirm and support contemporary scientific observations;as well as some collaborative exchanges with some peers. His artistic practice seen ininstallationprojects like‘Pavilion Prototype III: Camera Obscura #0 Mafadi’, presented aspart of the 2026 Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale,engages photographiesbeyondrepresentation, as well as installation as sites of participation and collaborative practice.He isthe 2026 resident for Platform Dali, engaging with scientist at the Institute of High EnergyPhysic in Barcelona.DrMahashe isan Associate Professorat the Michaelis School of Fine Art, University ofCape Town where he is lead researcher on several practice and research projects. Heconvenes the Honour in Curatorship programme, as well as the Foundation of Artsprogramme. Helectures inNew Media, as well as on critical practices around the idea of the“new museum”.