39 Hand picked artists from around the world were invited to collaborate with Mr. Nelson Mandela on a series of art works called "The Unity Series". This is the first time that Mr. Mandela has joined hands with professional fine artists since he started his own career in the arts in 2000. Amongst those chosen are some of the world's most renown artists from as far afield as China, Europe, the USA, Australia and South Africa.
This project rocketed into the international media spotlight when a legal battle ensued inside the ranks of some participating parties. Though much of this has been resolved, the legal process continues and as such the project remains in the wings. This has however, brought much interest and widespread exposure to Mr. Mandela's art career.
The Unity Series consists of 6 works depicting Mr. Mandela's life long journey to freedom. The individual works making up the series are titled Struggle, Imprisonment, Freedom, Unity and Future with a written motivation on the final work. These charcoal sketches (black line sketches with titles hand written underneath and then signed) were printed as litho prints and a set was handed to each artist to add their personal interpretation of the story.
Above the first 4 of 6 works in Lené Pienaar's set can be seen. (Her part of the work is the realistic hand paintings and the symbolic rope images between title and signature).
LENÉ'S MOTIVATION
Lené wrote the following to express her approach and motivation for the paintings.
All we have in this life is temporary, seasons change and chapters come and go. But there is one irrevocable gift in life: choice. Victims or victors, our lives are shaped in the moments we feel done in or undone. One man sees a closed door as a barrier, the next sees an opportunity to reach the world beyond. And the key in his hand is choice.
Pressure and time can carve a diamond from simple rock. The same elements can transform the heart of a man who is willing to trade beauty for ashes. We have seen this process at work in a man who stood tall in the face of adversity. He withstood years of suffering and in the moment of his revenge, chose to forgive. He turned humiliation into dignity and returned suffering with peace. The man who's story has touched the world and made him a living legend, Nelson Mandela.
Those hands which worked the quarry on Robin Island have now gently sketched their story of freedom. They bring the message of hope that even in the face of death there lives the unquenchable possibility of resurrection.
Laying a stone path to guide the young ones who follow, who's lives have begun with adversity.
Now this one thing remains, the question posed on these pages to you and me. How do we reply to the life and heart of this great man. What do we choose?
Somehow the path of life has mingled the work of my hands in these images. Born into the same country as this great man yet how can I compare our lives? I have no tale of prison and no special claim yet struggle has touched us all. I paint what I know and express what has moved me and hope that my heart and yours can meet in the common ground of life experience. May we take this precious message and make it ours and live a life that touches others for their good.
