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Mbulelo Mpofu, Showbiz Reporter
WHILE many care about opulence and attention on social media, a certain, rare breed of individuals concern themselves with picture-perfect reflections of social matters that do matter.

Enter Conscience Ndlovu and claim your visual storytelling spot.

Unlike many, she poses to theatrical proportions for social change and under the theme, “Stop Violence against women and girls (SVAWG),” she is being the change that she wants to see in the world.

At first glance, one might think the visuals were taken from a Hollywood horror movie, yet, right here in the City of Kings and Queens, people are dealing with social issues in an artistic way.

Her vision is to shoot many more works of ingenuity and she believes she can only achieve her dream with the help of corporates and well-wishers to help her realise her dream of being an influential figure in the society through art.

“I’m actually looking for non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that will notice me for such shoots. This is because I want to advocate for social change and be the ambassador of anything that needs to be rectified if we are going to move forward as a community,” she said.

It might just be still images yet the messages conveyed move and melt even stone-cold hearts.

She wants to preach the gospel of peaceful reconciliation amongt partners.

In our patriarchal society, men tend to have a lion’s share in perpetrating gender-based violence and in one of her pictures, Conny depicts such a life in High Definition (HD).

“The objective of this photo shoot was to promote a comprehensive, multisectoral response to violence against women and girls (VAWG) and violence against children (VAC) more broadly, in order to mitigate the impact of violence on HIV/Aids prevention, care and treatment and to address this fundamental human rights violation in its own right,” is how the Nust Biotechnology student would summarise the gist of her shoot.

Her debut shoot, which was plastered on social media platforms, depicts a harassed woman under the clutches of her unrelenting, abusive partner. Behind the camera, the photogenic Conny works with Trymore Prince Moyo of Perfect Photo Skies Photography.

She is inspired by comedian, brand ambassador and actress Madam Boss.

While the world sets aside a day or a few days to promote anti-GBV programmes like 16 days of activism and other campaigns, Conny believes that peaceful conflict resolutions should be a way of life as GBV cases are rising at an alarming rate.

Conny’s visual storytelling is in accord with the internationally-acclaimed 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence beginning November 25 (International End Violence against Women Day) and lasting through December 10 (International Human Rights Day). — @eMKlass_49