A documentary photo series about a South African trans woman and her long road to becoming a ‘fully woman’
This photo exhibition is a penetrating portrait of Chedino, a trans woman living in Heideveld, a poor suburb of Cape Town in South Africa. Photographer Julia Gunther followed Chedino for six years in her path to becoming a “fully woman.
Like most South African trans people, Chedino could not afford a surgical sex change – costing between thirty and forty thousand euros. Her only option was to be placed on the waiting list at the Transgender Clinic at the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. This is one of the few clinics in South Africa that specialize in performing such gender reassignment surgery. However, the Western Cape government funds four surgeries a year and there is only one surgeon in South Africa who can perform these complicated operations.
Chedino was on the waiting list at the Transgender Clinic for twelve years. She considers herself lucky because these days the wait time for trans men and women is about twenty-five years. In 2018, Chedino’s ultimate wish came true: she was able to marry her fiancé Keagan as a “full” woman.
Location: IHLIA Plaza, Oosterdokskade 143, 3rd floor (OBA Oosterdok)
When: 25 October 2018 – 27 January 2019
More information: Previously, photographer Julia Gunther exhibited at IHLIA with Chedino and family, about Chedino’s life before her surgery
