Michelle Wastie speaks to ENCA about #ThePeopleHaveSpoken, her investigative portrait project exploring South African sentiment during a period of political uncertainty. In this 5-minute interview, she discusses the project's origin, the process of capturing participants' thoughts and emotions, and its role in the larger conversation amongst South Africans.
Watch the full ENCA interview above, in which Michelle discusses how #ThePeopleHaveSpoken was born from observing public sentiment on social media following the removal of South Africa's finance minister. The project brought together South Africans from all walks of life, asking each participant to formulate their most pertinent thought, write it on a chalkboard in the colours of the South African flag, and present the emotion behind their sentiment in a portrait.
The interview explores why the project struck a chord nationally, and what it revealed about what unites South Africans beyond background, demographic, culture or race.