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Not Collected is an insight into local communities around Johannesburg, South Africa, just before Apartheid ended. This rare archive was found in Jeppestown district by Audrey Salmon and Lukas Birk on the back shelves of Ravi Lalla’s framing and poster shop. This once large establishment was a cornerstone in the area, and Ravi’s stories span four decades. Ravi used to develop, enlarge and frame images taken by workers whose jobs were in Jeppestown.

They commuted on a daily basis from their townships. Following the end of Apartheid, people’s movements shifted and some never went back to where they used to work. Many of Ravi’s clients did Not Collect their images. For 30 years, Ravi kept these pictures in a box “just in case”… A box holding this wonderful collection of prismatic images. A box filled with pride and joy regardless the political context.

Lukas Birk