Nelson Mandela (South African, Born 1918) The Robben Island Series:
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Note : The Robben Island series was sketched and completed by Nelson Mandela between March and June 2002. They are images that Mandela found meaningful both symbolically and emotionally during the period of his incarceration on the island, where he spent eighteen of his twenty-seven years in prison. "Today when I look at Robben Island, I see it as a celebration of the struggle and a symbol of the finest qualities of the human spirit, rather than as a monument to the brutal tyranny and oppression of apartheid...In these sketches entitled My Robben Island, I have attempted to colour the island sketches in ways that reflect the positive light in which I view it. This is what I would like to share with the people around the worlds and, hopefully, also project the idea that even the most fantastic dreams can be achieved if we are prepared to endure life's challenges." (Nelson Mandela, 2002)The sketches have been executed in simple black charcoal lines with selected elements highlighted in pure pastel colours. The symbolism behind Mandela's choice in use of line, colour and composition is significant. Colour has symbolic value in African culture and it is this, and the simple use of line, that plays a dominant role in all the drawings. The lithographs were originally sold in aid of the Nelson Mandela Trust.
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