Foreign Nationals: Photographs of the MaRock by Aldo Brincat

South African multi-disciplinary artist, Aldo Brincat, is bringing his photographic exhibition Foreign Nationals, to show in London at the Brunei Gallery, SOAS. This exhibition comprises of black and white prints, featuring Botswana’s enigmatic MaRock; a heavy metal cowboy subculture, which is on the rise in Botswana and Southern Africa. Boasting an ever growing membership, now bursting with over 2000 followers, this remarkable phenomena was recently covered by CNN and music magazine- Rolling Stone.

“These men (as with all performing artists) begged to be witnessed, documented and celebrated. And there is no threat of the MaRock being culturally colonised. This is contemporary African culture adopting what its heart pleases. I admire their courage and their screwball, oral history of how and why the MaRock exist.

I imagine that’s how all cultures begin. My title is an invitation from the MaRock to click away with my cameras and to export their image and existence. My title is also a statement of possession. They are the kings of what they are all about, not the victims."
Aldo Brincat

Another remarkable feature of this exhibition, is that the photographer has formed the MaRock Trust Fund with the MaRock featured in the prints. All proceeds from the sales of a limited number of signed prints, go to the Trust of which they alone are the signatories.