"NOT EVERY DAY IS THE SAME": ZANELE MUHOLI AT CASA SANTA ANA

The Casa Santa Ana Foundation presents Amalanga awafani (Not All Days Are the Same), the first exhibition in Panama by Zanele Muholi, a visual artist from South Africa. The exhibition, presented with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Panama, is open to the public free of charge until April 19, 2026.

The exhibition brings together emblematic works from the series Somnyama Ngonyama (Hail, Dark Lioness), begun in 2012, in which she presents self-portraits in which she explores self-representation and cultural heritage, using everyday objects as meaning-laden visual symbols about personal and collective histories of exclusion, displacement and ongoing racism and Faces and Phases (Faces and Phases), begun in 2006 and which constitutes a living archive with hundreds of portraits, each one functioning as an act of resistance against historical exclusion. Its objective is to preserve the visual memory of people who, over time, have been systematically made invisible in the public story.  In Panama, the archive added a special chapter with portraits taken in June 2025 of members of the local LGBTQ+ community, now integrated into the global project. They are images that mark and preserve our visual history and remind, as Muhoni says, that "we were here".

The exhibition is completed with educational and community activities in which children, educational and community institutions have participated.

With Amalanga awafani, Muholi invites us to think about the passage of time, personal and social changes, and the way in which people construct their identity throughout life. Each portrait marks a specific moment, recognizing that identity, dignity, and survival are never constant.

Zanele Muholi's photographic work focuses on the lives of the Black LGBTQIA+ community. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Tate Modern, the Venice Biennale and documenta. Muholi founded the Muholi Art Institute (MAI).

The intention of the artist, who considers herself a visual activist, is to connect people through contemporary art and offer tools to think critically about our social realities.

Casa Santa Ana is a non-profit foundation that connects people through contemporary art, seeking to understand current contexts and build a stronger, more inclusive community. It organizes exhibitions, publications, workshops, residencies and community programs.