Jordyn L
Honors
English 2A
A
Single Painting Can Tell a Magical Story
My
topic is Ronald Harrison. Ronald was a South African painter who began painting
at the age of 16. His most famous work “ Black Christ” depicted African National Congress leader
Chief Albert Luthuli as Christ crucified, flanked by two Roman centurions, then
National Party prime minister Hendrik Verwoerd and justice minister John
Vorster. As a result he was arrested and tortured by the
security police. The painting was smuggled to the United Kingdom after it was
banned in South Africa, and was only returned in 1997. Ronald died of a
heart-attack on the 28th of June 2011 at the age of 71.
Ronald’s
influence on apartheid was “The Black Christ. In 1961, Harrison writes, he was
struck by something of an epiphany: what if he were to signify the suffering of
South Africa’s black people by equating it with the crucifixion of Christ, rendering
Luthuli as a modern-day Christ and apartheid’s ideologues, Verwoerd and
Vorster, as Roman centurions, “the tormentors of Christ”? An Asian St. John and
a Black Madonna, Harrison surmised, would complete the picture. So came about
the birth of “The Black Christ”, the painting around which revolves Harrison’s
multi-layered narrative of the struggle against apartheid, the terror tactics
of the South African state, the relation of art to politics, his own troubled
life until the dismantling of apartheid, and the fate of “The Black Christ”
itself.
My
personal opinion on this topic is Ronald had a big influence on apartheid. He was
able to contribute to ending apartheid by his paintings. Everyone always believes
that words and violence is the only answer but pictures speak a thousand words.
The only thing I believe he could have done better was express what he meant
more and not been afraid to speak his mind. He chose to take the safe route and
I understand why he did this with South Africa being such a dangerous place for
blacks and especially for those who went against the government.
I
think that he would be an interesting person to learn about in school. He not
only was a great painter but he spoke his mind and greatly contributed to the
end of apartheid. He was able to relate Christ and Blacks together by a common
symbol that is very well known. This decision made his paining the “The Black Christ”
his most famous painting since it depicted such a strong depiction.
http://www.sahistory.org.za/sites/default/files/event_pics/black-christ.jpg
I greatly enjoyed this post. I loved learning about a different man that was involved in trying to end apartheid, considering people just focus on Nelson Mandela or Desmond Tutu. Another thing that I liked was how he was able to relate Christ's crucification on the cross to what the blacks went through during the time of apartheid. Although they are completely different, they are both very big acts of people being inhumane. I like how you included things not only about what he did for apartheid, but also some things about his life, like his birth and death. One thing I think you could improve on however, would be to extend a bit on "The Black Christ" painting. A further question I have on this topic would be if Ronald had any other painting that depicted something completely different, or if he just focused on apartheid.
ReplyDeleteWow. The fact that something can be arrested and tortured for a piece of art is really just inhumane. It also sheds light on just how corrupt the apartheid system of government was. His connection between South Africa's black people and Christ is something I don't think I would have connected. However, it is a very insightful and truthful connection. He is certainly an remarkable man to have made his contributions with powerful paintings. I agree, as a student, I would love to learn more about people like Ronald Harrison.
ReplyDelete