Pata Pata (2018)

A video piece created about the key movements of Pantsula dance. Over a five year period I documented many different Pantsula dance crews from all over Johannesburg and in order to understand its form and history I captured a series of different fundamental movements, these movements where then converted into frames from the video and printed as large scale prints, the original footage was then made into this video piece. The video was premiered at The Fowler museum at UCLA where the entire series was curated into an exhibition about Pantsula dance, the journey was through the images I had captured. 

Directed by. Chris Saunders
Cinematographer. Chris Saunders
Editor & Sound Design. Malcolm Che'

NOT X CHRIS SAUNDERS (2014)

NOT x Chris Saunders is a 2014 cross- cultural collaborative project between New York based fashion designer Jenny Lai, Johannesburg based photographer Chris Saunders, and five local creatives from Cape Town, Johannesburg, and their neighboring townships.

NOT x Chris Saunders seeks to explore, expand, and celebrate the burgeoning South African fashion scene through moving images, photography, and a series of collaborative garment creations.

The project consists of four separate collaborations:

Jenny Lai worked with accessories designer Dennis Chuene, vintage clothier Dr. Pachanga, menswear designer Floyd Avenue, and costumer/puppetmaker Macdonald Mfolo. After Jenny researched, interviewed, and otherwise immersed herself completely in the working style and process of each collaborator, each pair reinterpreted an existing design from Lai's brand using a uniquely South African process and material. The final works were brought to life by performing artist Manthe Ribane under the direction and lens of Chris Saunders.

Directed by. Chris Saunders
Cinematographer. Chris Saunders & Justin McGee
Editor. Ross Maxwell