Pinky promises at JAG

The theme in the photographs of Pierre Crocquet de Rosemond are harsh – child sexual abuse – but he manages to present the stories of victims and perpetrators with great sensitivity.
EVERY child knows what a pinky promise is – that swearing of a secret or that making of a deal, never to be broken, signed and sealed by the intertwining of pinky fingers.

Bob, [80] 2011, Silver b/w photograph, 750mm by 600mmBob, [80] 2011, Silver b/w photograph, 750mm by 600mmPinky Promise is the title of photographer Pierre Crocquet de Rosemond’s exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (JAG), opening on 18 September.

“Pinky Promise is a powerful and thought-provoking exhibition about childhood sexual abuse and healing,” says the JAG’s public programmes manager, Tiny Malefane. “Pierre Crocquet’s three intense years of photography and interviews are distilled into a narrative of abuse, survival and healing.

“He presents the stories of five victims and three perpetrators with sensitivity, a robust stance on sexual offences and a desire to understand a social ill that has become alarmingly prevalent in our society,” Malefane adds.

Crocquet grew up in Klerksdorp, a small town approximately 161 kilometres west of Johannesburg. He graduated with a financial degree from University of Cape Town and moved to London, where he worked in various merchant banks.

Disillusionment with the banking world soon followed, and he left the finance sector to study photography at the London College of Printing.

He returned to South Africa in 2000, and his early work reflected this by focusing on life in South Africa and on the rest of the continent.

Sid, [56] 2011 Digital photograph, 750mm by 600mmSid, [56] 2011 Digital photograph, 750mm by 600mmCrocquet’s website reads: “Although [his] subjects are South African, his subject matter has no geographical boundaries.”

His work in Pinky Promise evolved from previous projects, such as Enter Exit, which focused on individuals within a small, isolated, multi-racial community. “Progressing from Enter Exit and removing the geographical constraints of that small community, Pinky Promise continues to explore the psyche.

“It concentrates on one aspect of the psyche – that of childhood wounds,” the website reads.

There will also be walkabouts, a panel discussion and a book launch at Seippel Gallery, which is co-producing the exhibition. The walkabouts will take place on 1 October and 26 November at 10am, and the panel discussion will happen at 10am on 15 October.

The book launch of Pinky Promise will take place at 12pm on 19 November at the Seippel Gallery. The entrance is at 40 Berea Street or 260 Fox Street in City & Suburban.

JAG can be found in Joubert Park, with the entrance in King George Street. It is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, from 10am to 5pm. For more information on Pinky Promise, contact Tiny Malefane on 011 725 3184 or email tinym@joburg.org.za. The exhibition will run until 29 January 2012.