 Johannes Phokela, b. 1966 Cuts, 1990 Acrylic on canvas with string 96-24-1, purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program Phokela, who lives and works in London, took a trip home to South Africa in 1989 and was distressed to see the state of violence that existed as a result of political rivalry and unrest. He was disturbed when he saw bandages and scars on the faces and bodies of his fellow citizens, and by the fact that everyone else seemed to accept the situation as normal. When he returned to London, he created a canvas of cuts and painted gold frames over them to distance himself from the violence. |