Jump to page
1. Nelson Mandela - Lithographs and Photographs
2.
3.
4.
5. Lithographs and Photographs
6.
7. Lithographs by Nelson Mandela
8.
9.
10.
11. Contents
12. My Robben Island
13. The Window
14.
15. The Cell
16.
17. The Church
18.
19. The Lighthouse
20.
21. The Harbour
22.
23. Hand Signed Lithograph
24.
25. Jurgen Schadeberg Photographs
26.
27.
28.
29. Hand of Africa
30.
31. Impressions of Africa
32. Reflections of Robben Island
33. The Guard Tower
34.
35. Mandela's Walk
36.
37. The Courtyard
38.
39. The Ward
40.
41. The Tennis Court
42.
43. The Illustrated Long Walk to Freedom
44. The Sebastian Hunter Memorial Trust
45.
46.
47.
48. Back cover
|
Text only version of page 32. Reflections of Robben Island
To view this page as it is intended to be viewed please download and install Adobe Flash Player.
Belgravia Mandela catalogue Q7:Text 21/5/08 12:51 Page 30
R E F L E C T I O N S
O F
R O B B E N
I S L A N D ”Barbed wire fences and ominous towers became a tragic backdrop to life on Robben Island. At the time
of my imprisonment, Robben Island was without question the harshest, most iron-fisted prison in the South
African penal system. It was a remote and lonely island outpost for both prisoners and prison staff.The racial divide on Robben Island was absolute. There were no black warders and there were no white
[prisoners]. Warders demanded a master-servant relationship. There were no watches or clocks on
Robben Island, we were dependent on bel s and warders whistles and shouts as our time-pieces.In the prison, the towers looked over us throughout the day. In this sketch I have at empted to pul together
the two elements that overshadowed our lives for so many years: the towers and the ever-restraining
barbed wire. The image shows the harsh reality that reminds me of our sacrifice and endurance, the use
of more cheerful colours in this sketch is my way of presenting how we feel today.”
ARTIST’S MOTIVATION 2003
NELSON MANDELA The Guard Tower Hand Signed Lithograph Edition: 350
30
|