During his residency in Israel, Macilau traveled the country in search for diverse ethnic groups, and particularly, individuals who can tell their family history. This series features twelve portraits, highlighting the diversity that characterizes Israeli society. Through an intricate layering technique, Macilau's photographs feature contemporary subjects with elements of the past. Each portrait represents one of the twelve tribes and is set on a different stone background, permeating the image. The blend of background and foreground expose a tension between past and present; the stone background a remnant from an ancient past, the portrait a contemporary depiction of the today's local society.
Mario Macilau (b.1984, Mozambique)
The Twelve Tribes, 2016
Igshaan Adams
—Plate 7
2014Kader Attia
—The Repair
2012Armand Boua
—Untitled
2014Armand Boua
—Untitled
2014Kudzanai Chiurai
—Look Mom, No Hands
2011David Goldblatt
—The Ruins of Shareworld and FNB Soccer City Stadium.
2009Isabelle Grobler
—The Cannibal's Congress: father tongue
2015Isabelle Grobler
—the cannibal’s congress: mother tongue
2015Isabelle Grobler
—the cannibal's congress: founding ideology
2015Daniel Halter
—Rifugiata Mappa del Mondo
2013Turiya Magadlela
—He is reborn into you
2012Turiya Magadlela
—Identify Michael
2012Turiya Magadlela
—She went all around the world and came back here #2
2012Mikhael Subotzky and Patrick Waterhouse
—Doors, Ponte City (film)
2010Aime Mpane
—9 Portraits from the Kinoct series
2011Terrence Musekiwa
—Germinating
2016Terrence Musekiwa
—Head from Africa
2016Terrence Musekiwa
—Black and White
2015Terrence Musekiwa
—Green Mask
2015Terrence Musekiwa
—Murimi Wanhasi (Zim Farmer)
2015Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo
—Glamorous And Fairy
2014Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo
—EGO
2013Duhirwe Rushemeza
—Return of the Makaned
2013Duhirwe Rushemeza
—Untitled (Imigongo V - White and Brown)
2013Duhirwe Rushemeza
—Mr. Wind-Up Bird in Yellow
2013Duhirwe Rushemeza
—Red Ochre Nude
2013
Halim Al Karim
—Hidden Goddess #4
2009Sookoon Ang
—Exorcise Me (IV)
2013Sookoon Ang
—Exorcise Me (V)
2013Sookoon Ang
—Exorcise Me (IX)
2013Ilit Azoulay
—Room #8
2011Ilit Azoulay
—Room #8
2011Atul Bhalla
—Submerged Again
2005Sergey Bratkov
—The Best
2010Marcos Chaves
—Untitled / Series "Holes"
2008Marcos Chaves
—Untitled / Series "Holes"
2008Marcos Chaves
—Untitled / Series "Holes"
2008Nicola Costantino
—‘Winged Nicola’ inspired by Bacon
2010Nicola Costantino
—Still Life/The Dinner
2008Nicola Costantino
—After Berni
2008David Goldblatt
—The Ruins of Shareworld and FNB Soccer City Stadium.
2009Jitish Kallat
—The Cry Of Gland
2010Sze Tsung Leong
—Looking towards Chongqing
2003Vik Muniz
—Jackie (from Pictures of Diamond)
2005Vik Muniz
—After Barry Le Va, 1969 (from Pictures of Dust)
2000Youssef Nabil
—Amani by Window, Cairo
1993Michal Rovner
—One Person Game Against Nature I, #6
1992-93Michal Rovner
—One Person Game Against Nature I, #40
1992-93Michal Rovner
—One Person Game Against Nature I, #3
1992-93Timur Si-Qin
—Truth by Peace Ⅱ
2015Timur Si-Qin
—Truth by Peace Ⅲ
2015Sadegh Tirafkan
—Human Tapestry # 8
2009-2010Sadegh Tirafkan
—Human Tapestry # 7
2009Amon Yariv
—Man with Broken Face
2011Amon Yariv
—Man with Broken Face 2
2011Amon Yariv
—Barn Owl
2011Maya Zack
—Living Room #1
2009Maya Zack
—Living Room #2
2009Maya Zack
—Living Room #3
2009Maya Zack
—Living Room #4
2009Xu Zhen (MadeIn Company)
—"In mass exercise, the greater the conflict between theory and reality, the stronger its eagerness to impose beliefs on others"
2010