Latest news with #Unseen
The Guardian
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Brooding, fearsome views of a blackened earth: Jungjin Lee's epic Iceland photographs
There's a visual quiz circulating on social media at the moment that promises to reveal your unresolved childhood trauma. Do you see an elephant first or a forest? A butterfly or an apple? Jungjin Lee's exhibition, called Unseen, is in some ways an elevated version of that. The series of large, black-and-white landscape photographs – all made last year in Iceland – do not tell you anything about the times, or the place. Instead what you see depends on what is buried in you – threatening to open up that scary, unbidden 'unseen'. Lee, who lives in New York, is little known in the UK beyond her photobooks. This small show of 10 works is her first solo show in the UK in a 30-year career. Her background is important in deciphering these images. Her first artistic training was in the traditional calligraphic arts, as a child growing up in South Korea. Later she studied ceramics at Hongik University in Seoul, where artists such as Lee Bul were among her peers. In the late 1980s, her first photography project followed an old man living on a remote Korean island, documenting his search for wild ginseng. In a decade, he had never found a single plant. But by the time Lee had finished the project, she realised what she had made was more a reflection of her own state of mind, and that she would never be a documentary photographer. She turned her back on the genre for good. After moving to New York, she worked for a time as an assistant to Robert Frank. His attitude, rather than his style, influenced Lee, who was moved by the way he followed his instincts and interests. In the 1990s, she began to travel the US and make portraits of a decaying American landscape and its elements: the barren desert, the unforgiving wind, the endless debris. These clamouring landscapes were, and continue to be, portraits of the artist as rocks, trees, and thrashing waves. They come to be portraits of the viewer, too. This new body of work was all made last year, in Iceland. Many contemporaries of Lee have made work about or with the Icelandic elements: Roni Horn, Ragnar Axelsson, Olafur Eliasson. Lee also responds to this aspect of the place. The specific topographies there provided Lee with what she needed: dramatic vistas capable of carrying the epic literary qualities of her work, the full range of human emotion. They are brooding, fearsome and roar with the supremacy of nature. The landscape, to Lee, is an expression of existential angst and metaphorical musings. Out there is the only subject capable of holding everything that's in here, in us. We are placed on an empty road that plunges into a dark abyss on the horizon (#83), or at the frothy seam of the sea and land (#55). You can almost feel the salty air slap your face in a portrait of an imposing rock standing resolute against the choppy water that whips up around it (#76). Its coarse and craggy surface seems to contain the history of the world. A smoky cloud descends on a blackened earth, its symbolism striking. What you see, of course, is subjective. A mournful picture of two rocks (#49) shows them rising like tombstones from the sea, one large, jutting out, one tiny and intrepid, as if heading off into the distance. I make out the tender figures of a mother and child, the child forging ahead, falteringly, off into the unknown. I see Frank's influence surfacing: the 'humanity of the moment.' And the moment is uncertain. You have to be a decent artist – even more so, working with a camera – to make a landscape picture interesting. Part of the brilliance of Lee's work comes from her technical mastery, which reflects her journey as an artist, from the calligraphy of her childhood and the same raw approach to moulding the earth with her hands, adapted from ceramics. Sign up to Art Weekly Your weekly art world round-up, sketching out all the biggest stories, scandals and exhibitions after newsletter promotion It starts with a medium format Panoramic camera. She then brushes the negative with processing emulsion soaked on to delicate hanji, or Korean mulberry paper, and bathes them at a slightly higher temperature than is conventional for fixing. This optimises the mottled, etched textures. These hand-emulsified images are then transformed again, into digital images, at which point she tinkers with the contrasts and prints them again. The brushstrokes to the surface are palpable and are as evocative Korean ink paintings – you can't help but trace the influence of a pictorialist tradition that seeps unmistakably into Lee's work. The knockout textures and the charcoal tones are aesthetically closer to drawings. At times the photograph seems to dissolve completely: in #10, a minimalist picture of a sloping mountain is stretched to abstraction, its suggestive black lines merely mimicking what was there. Jungjin Lee: Unseen is at Huxley-Parlour Gallery, London, until 5 July
News24
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Dineo Langa on peeling back the layers in Unseen S2
When we're first introduced to Naledi, portrayed by Dineo Langa, in the first season of Unseen, she's portrayed as a dynamic woman, married to a doctor. She's fiery, driven and full of spirit. As the sister of the main character (Zenzi, played by Gail Mabalane), Dineo has described the experience of playing Naledi as deeply insightful. To fully embody the role, she often found herself immersing in Gail's world, constantly exploring the emotional depth of her character by asking, 'how would this make her feel?' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dineo Langa (@dineomoeketsi) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dineo Langa (@dineomoeketsi) A lot of the prepping came down to understanding how to plot the world and the emotional points. She would also find musical associations for her character before stepping into her scene. She says, 'As soon as I knew that my lady had run away at a very young age, I knew that my lady had worked very hard to suppress whatever trauma that she had gone through. I knew that my lady had locked away her past, in a 'stronger than most' kind of way.' Stepping into the characters The second season breaks away the peels from Dineo's character and pushes us into her traumatic past. She and Gail got to meet the actors who play the younger versions of their characters. It was an expressive moment of getting to see how they explained their worlds to each other. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dineo Langa (@dineomoeketsi) 'We've watched the Blood and Water, we've watched them do Unseen, we've watched them do so many other things and they really are amazing storytellers. So me having the chance to meet the younger versions but also now having the root of the trauma, the point at which Naledi runs away, how it affects her physically. The trauma is so deep that she is a girl who throws up at the sight of a roadside, you know? So it goes that far deep.' READ MORE | Gail Mabalane on her first lead role in Netflix's Unseen - 'It's something that I don't take for granted' The sisters confront the trauma of reconnecting with their abusive past in a way reflects the complex dynamics of sisterhood. The older sister shoulders the responsibility of picking up the pieces, while the younger one withdraws, avoiding the emotional weight of it all. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dineo Langa (@dineomoeketsi) 'In an abused environment, Naledi goes, 'I can't,' which is not understandable to a firstborn who needs their sister in the form of Naledi. It's not understandable that you're gonna dip when we've got a mother with a chronic illness and you're just gonna run away. That is not fathomable in Zenzi's world because, again, the level of responsibility and what she's been raised with.' Being unseen While the story centers on Zenzile and the often-invisible lives of domestic workers, Dineo highlights how it also mirrors the broader reality of women in South Africa today. 'So the dynamic of even being seen—people will say, 'Yeah, women are doing so much more today.' But there's a large percentage of women who are just being told, 'Hey, your part. Don't do more than that.' Yet, she adds, even when they shrink themselves or stay silent, they're still met with the same criticism and scrutiny.
Mail & Guardian
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
Blood, tears and bodies: Season 2 of Unseen carries on the drama
Unseen returns for an explosive second season. Generally, I am apprehensive of adaptations of foreign stories for local audiences — as if we don't have pertinent stories of our own to tell. The crime thriller series Unseen on Netflix, however, is an exception due to its universal and contemporary themes. Adapted from the Turkish Netflix series Fatma , created by Özgür Önurme, Unseen returns for an explosive second season. This South African version follows domestic worker Zenzi as she continues her pursuit for justice and healing. Brilliantly portrayed by Gail Nkoane Mabalane, Zenzi is timid yet courageous, quiet but her trail of murders rings loudly in the underground world and in corporate corridors. In the first season, released in 2023 on the global streamer, we saw Zenzi losing loved ones due to being entangled in an intricate corruption scheme involving gangs in the Cape Town area, private bankers and the government. In this second season we not only see how deep corruption can go when private and public representatives collude, the story also goes deeper to explore Zenzi's relations with her estranged sister, Naledi (Dineo Langa) and their shared grief. As in the first season, dead bodies, blood and tears flow throughout the six episodes, with Zenzi at the centre in her trademark outfit of a coat and hoodie. Repurposed but relatable What is it about this story that has got local and global audiences excited and binging in their homes? For award-winning production company Gambit Films, it is about telling such stories in a thrilling, but relatable, way. Having produced successful shows like Blood and Water, Nommer 37 and Suidooster, this Cape Town-based company has learned how to capture viewers with electrifying drama. Travis Taute, who produced and directed both seasons of Unseen , says it was an exciting experience for them to work on a story that most South Africans would be able to identify with. 'The lead character is just a domestic lady, and I think that repurposing that, and telling that story through a South African perspective, just made all the sense in the world.' Taute adds that their aim at Gambit Films is to tell the most authentic story possible. 'That is always our focus — story first and whatever comes after that, hopefully, if we've done our job right, the audience will respond accordingly.' What makes Unseen particularly enchanting is the universality of the themes. As a global society, we are all struggling with similar issues such as grief, survival, justice, strained relationships and corporate corruption. Taute adds: 'I think just the entry point into the story, the perspective of the story being told from a domestic lady, was so interesting and refreshing. That's the kind of thing that we feel like people really resonate and identify with. 'So, hopefully, that's the case with this season, too.' Creative producer Darren Joshua shares Taute's sentiments on the growing popularity of the show with audiences. 'To see the thousands of people posting about the show on social media, and talking about Zenzi like she's someone that's a friend of theirs who's going through something, was brilliant.' Survival and black women standing up to power What further resonates with South African audiences is the theme of a black woman standing up for herself and her loved ones in a hostile, patriarchal society. In a country layered with toxic masculinity, from households to corporate skyscrapers, Zenzi's pursuits make her a national hero to the unseen and voiceless. Many black women are in survival mode, due to an antagonistic environment that treats them like second-class citizens. Those in lower economic positions, like domestic workers, often black women, are seen as insignificant figures — 'nobodies' in society. Joshua adds that the show's title is on the nose for those reasons. 'Zenzi is unseen and overlooked. And then she pulls into a world that you just haven't seen before. I think that is the most attractive thing about this local show. 'We wanted something that was just, suspenseful and propulsive.' However, viewers are challenged about whether Zenzi's actions are justified as self-defence; accidental or intentional. In one scene, a character tells Zenzi: 'Harden up lady, this place will eat you!' — a reminder of how ruthless the world can be for women. When a person is attacked without provocation, or in a dangerous situation, survival is a natural response, no matter what one's standing in society. These kinds of situations thus lead to the, 'We stay together. We fight. We survive,' mantras many women must use to get by in their daily lives. Stories about ordinary people seeking justice and healing will never get old in a violent country where many are silenced and rejected, particularly women and children. Though perhaps morally questionable, Zenzi does what some might have been driven to think of doing in the dark corners of their minds. Without healthy and safe spaces to offload anger, resentment and desperation can darken many hearts. The character of Zenzi speaks on behalf of those unfairly treated; she validates their ever-flowing tears and deep scars inflicted at the hands of the broken men in our society, be they in tailored suits or not. But Unseen does remind us that principled men do exist, such as Lufuno Ngezi (Mothusi Magano) and Detective Morkel (Waldemar Schultz), and even gangster Raymond Hendricks (Brendon Daniels) who eventually becomes Zenzi's unlikely ally. Simon Beasely, the show's executive producer, says starting out on any production one never knows where the story could end up. 'The idea is you always try to make local for local and sort of any additional eyeballs are always a bonus. 'It's incredibly exciting and it's hard to actually even predict where we're going next. You think you have seen it all and then, all of a sudden, a new concept comes about and it blows everyone away.' Unseen season two is a seamless continuation from the first, with a stellar cast, great cinematography and haunting themes relevant to our times, particularly in South Africa. It is the story of an ordinary woman standing up to power and patriarchy with the extraordinary resolve and grit which has resonated with many viewers, locally and globally.
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Gail Mabalane: the mother of all problems for bad guys in 'Unseen' season 2
Gail Mabalane reprises her role as Zenzi Mwale in 'Unseen 2'. Image: Netflix Gail Mabalane is arguably one of the most talented yet overlooked actresses in South Africa, a claim I don't make lightly. Mabalane may not have the lengthy acting credentials of her peers, but she has a profound understanding of the craft and exhibits significant commitment through her method acting approach. I still can't understand why she didn't bag a South African Film and Television Awards nod for her magnificent portrayal of Zenzi Mwale in the first season of Netflix's 'Unseen'. Seriously, how could she have been snubbed? After being mesmerised by her performance in season one of 'Unseen', I didn't think she could surpass it. I was mistaken. She blows that performance out of the water in the follow-up season. Gambit Film's second instalment of 'Unseen' debuted without much fanfare on the streaming platform, but the ingenious six-part series packs a serious punch, from the stellar storytelling and casting to the execution. The new instalment picks up from the aftermath of season one, where Zenzi, in trying to find her ex-con husband Max (Vuyo Dabula), who goes missing after being released, finds herself using her nondescript status to bring down a massive criminal syndicate that he took the fall for. Tragically, her son becomes collateral damage, and her acts of vigilantism create significant disruption. Currently behind bars, Zenzi's greatest ally is Detective Lyners (Ilse Klink), who is determined to dismantle the criminal organisation behind the litany of corruption and murder that led to Zenzi's incarceration. Meanwhile, Detective Morkel (Waldermar Schultz), who is Lyners ex, believes the case is over and she is just grasping at straws with her investigation. When Zenzi, who is pregnant, is violently attacked in prison by fellow inmate TK (Danica Jones), followed by Lyners being killed, Morkel realises that there is more to the story than meets the eye. However, his captain, Eric Davids (Kevin Smith), hands the investigation over to Detective Visser (Erica Wessels). Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Zolisa Xaluva, Dineo Langa and Gail Mabalane in 'Unseen 2'. Image: Netflix With Zenzi proving to be a loose end that needs to be wrapped up, especially with business tycoon Andrew Harting (Frank Rautenbach) on the brink of signing an electricity deal that benefits his influential partners from various sectors, including government, he orders his legal right-hand, Reuben Theron (Colin Moss), to take care of it. Fortunately, Zenzi, after escaping an attack on her life in the hospital, is aided by her sister Naledi (Dineo Langa) - much to the displeasure of her doctor husband John (Zolisa Xaluva) - as well as prominent author Lufuno (Mothusi Magano). Desperate for a fresh start, Zenzi is unable to get away as TK and S'bu (Siv Ngesi) take her sister and brother-in-law hostage, forcing her to return and face the music. In the second instalment, the writers delve into Zenzi and Naledi's traumatic childhood, bringing their father (played by the late Sello Motloung) into the picture and expanding on how they were bonded by their 'We fight, we stay together, we survive' stance. Frank Rautenbach as business tycoon Andrew Harting in 'Unseen'. Image: Netflix
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Netflix fans left in 'a puddle of tears' by thriller so gripping they 'watched it in one sitting' - raving 'I was on the edge of my seat the entire time!'
Netflix fans were left in 'a puddle of tears' after seeing a thriller so gripping they 'watched it in one sitting'. The crime drama, titled Unseen, delves into the story of a house cleaner called Zenzi Mwale (Gail Mabalane), who is searching for her missing husband. As the tale unravels, 'a dreaded criminal syndicate dredges up past tragedies and ultimately drives her to violence,' according to the synopsis. Alongside Mabalane, the South African action series stars Waldemar Schultz, Dineo Langa and others. The series debuted in 2023 and has seen two seasons so far, each consisting of six instalments. All 12 episodes are available to stream on Netflix and fans have raved about the show online. Some posted on Rotten Tomatoes: 'Great series, plot, characters and story development are very good in my opinion. 'It's visually uncompromising and brutal for the right reasons. Zenzi is an absolute hero of a character and a very very strong female lead. Just loved it.'; 'A tight, illuminating script, strong performances. Great production values. Loved it. Bring on S2, please.' Though not everyone was impressed and someone penned: 'The plot, while formulaic, kept my interest to a certain extent. Character development was weak, entirely plot-driven.' While others raved about the series on X and said: ''Unseen' Season 2 is an exceptional South African series on Netflix. 'After the first season delivered flawlessly, I anticipated that Season 2 would be even more outstanding and it truly surpassed expectations.' Another commented: 'Unseen season 2 was nothing short of amazing. I watched the series in one sitting and only took very quick bathroom breaks. I was literally glued to the edge of my seat the entire time!' 'Unseen on Netflix is pretty solid - hats off to the team at Gambit Films,' someone else penned. All 12 episodes are available to stream on Netflix and fans have raved about the show online According to Metro, one fan expressed how the show left them in a 'puddle of tears'. Netflix fans have also been captivated by a British crime thriller that 'gives them chills' and even compared it to Vera and Black Mirror. Three-part thriller Black Work first aired in 2015 on ITV but is still proving to be a hit with viewers. Starring Sheridan Smith, Matthew McNulty and Oliver Woollford, the drama was created by Bridge of Spies writer Matt Charman.
