African portrait acquired for national gallery

A PORTRAIT of two young men in an African approximation of Highland dress has been acquired by the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The untitled work by South African photographer Zwelethu Mthethwa shows two men from Shembe Nazareth – a baptist community which blends Christian and Zulu traditions.

It is believed that the kilt, which is worn for special occasions, was inspired by the dress of the Scottish regiments stationed in Natal in the late 19th century.

Members of the community refer to themselves at the Iscotch.

The new national portrait gallery, which opens on December 1 after a major refurbishment, will, for the first time, include a major space dedicated to displaying its collection of Scottish and international photography.

Mthethwa’s work was bought with the support of the Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for works of art.

His study of the two boys will be shown in the inaugural exhibition devoted to the art of the portrait photographer titled Romantic Camera: Scottish Photography and the Modern World.