Exhibition
JO RACTLIFFE
OUT OF PLACE
From 30 January to 24 May 2026
Jeu de Paume – Paris
Born in Cape Town in 1961, Jo Ractliffe is a major figure on the contemporary photography scene, although her work has rarely been exhibited in France. It is often associated with a discourse on the trauma of landscapes inherited from colonialism, apartheid, and the aftermath of the war in Angola.
For the first time, this monographic exhibition questions the notion of “place” as a central theme of her work. For the artist, the spaces she photographs are not simply geographical situations or terrains shaped by violence and history, they are also places rich with emotion and the bearers of memory.
Her images depict both historical sites and seemingly innocuous landscapes, where absence is charged with meaning. They not only reveal the visible traces of the past but also bear witness to profound social and economic change. Produced by the Jeu de Paume, this exhibition presents the evolution of Jo Ractliffe’s work from 1982 to her most recent series, created especially for the occasion. Her approach is positioned as a counterpoint to social documentary photography. Inspired more by literature than by journalism, the artist does not represent dramatic moments or violent scenes. Often after long periods of research and exploration of the places she studies, Ractliffe captures the discreet but powerful traces of her country’s history, inviting viewers to reflect on what appears in the image and what remains invisible.
Curator : Pia Viewing