Madiba shows his artistic side
By Gordon Bell
Nelson Mandela, South Africa's former president and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, moved from statesman to artist on Friday, unveiling his second series of sketches and impressions before a star-studded audience.
The 84-year-old former freedom fighter returned to the prison where he spent 18 years as a political prisoner to launch new works from A Touch of Mandela.
The collection is a work-in-progress collection made up of 21 sketches of landmarks and emotive symbols and moments of his life on Robben Island, of which five artworks and one motivational piece were released last year.
Two personalised impressions by Mandela showing his hand print and those of African children affected by Aids fetched a whopping R1-million at an auction from Andy McDonald, the chairman of British record company Independiete.
Personalised copies of five drawings of images on Robben Island were sold to the MD of British sports management company Pro International, Dennis Roach, for R850 000.
The drawings show various images of the island, such as a communal prison cell, the prison courtyard and guard tower, alongside photographs of the images.
"I have attempted to colour the island sketches in ways that reflect the positive light in which I view it," Mandela said of his work.
"That is what I would like to share with people around the world, and, hopefully also project the idea that even the most fantastic of dreams can be achieved if we are prepared to endure life's challenges."
Speaking on Friday, Mandela said he wanted the use of colour to reflect celebration as opposed to the grey that Robben Island had represented to the prisoners.
London's Belgravia Gallery released 500 charcoal prints of each of the first six sketches in 2002, priced from $2 500 (about R21 000) each and from $13 000 for a set of six.
Internationally renowned talk-show host Oprah Winfrey is apparently one of many admirers, and owners, of Mandela's work.
Most of the proceeds are awarded to the Nelson Mandela Trust.
Anna Hunter, the owner of the gallery, said art publisher Ross Calder had suggested Mandela draw to raise money for his charities after witnessing the success of works by the late John Lennon.
According to a statement, the former president is a passionate art lover, whose skills were honed by a young contemporary local artist, Varenke Paschke.
The new lithographs were unveiled at a glittering function in a hall of his old prison.
Among the guests were Dali Tambo and singer PJ Powers, finance minister Trevor Manuel, North West Premier Popo Molefe and businessman, former politician and Robben Island prisoner, Tokyo Sexwale. - Sapa