Heidi Erdmann

Background

About Heidi Erdmann

In 1993, while recovering from a major motor vehicle accident, I curated my first multi-media group exhibition, hosted in my home. The project was a resounding success and marked the beginning of my career in the art world. Before establishing my own gallery, I gained valuable experience working at the South African National Gallery and AREA, South Africa's first photography gallery. I am a founding member of the South African Centre of Photography (1998) and in I received the prestigious Award of Excellence from the Centro de la Imagen in Mexico City, recognizing my contributions to the field of photography. My curatorial practice centers on socio-political issues, drawing me to artists engaged in critical social critique. My projects aim to strike a balance between aesthetics and politics, often framed within a critical context. I have consistently championed the intersection of art and socio-political discourse. Over the years, I have conceptualized and presented numerous national and international exhibitions at private and public institutions, as well as arts and photography festivals. Many of these projects are documented in exhibition catalogues and published articles. I am the author of Manfred Zylla: Art & Resistance (2012) and curated Zylla’s retrospective, hosted across various museums. Additionally, I contributed the introduction to Roger Ballen/Die Antwoord (2012) and Jan Neethling (2014). As an editor, I have worked on publications such as 120 Days of Sodom: Manfred Zylla (2015) and Intertwined: A Selection of Photographs by Nomusa Makhubu 2005–2017 (2017), the latter co-written with the artist. I also curated Makhubu’s mid-career touring exhibition, presented at prominent South African museums.In 2012, I was honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award at the Dali International Photography Exhibition (DIPE) festival in China. Seeking to deepen my understanding of cultural institutions, I returned to university in 2018 and completed a Master’s degree. My research examined whether state institutions, such as the South African National Gallery, can effectively narrate a national imaginary in a postcolonial context, given financial neglect by the state.In 2021, I launched Legacy, a niche curatorial agency specializing in heritage and legacy projects. Building on this foundation, I established Legacy Gallery in 2024, a physical exhibition space located at Muratie Wine Estate.