Notes

Loosely translated from isiXhosa to mean "A man will rue the day, by me as a result of me!"

The current lot involves the representation of two of Athi-Patra Ruga's fictional characters, the Walking Wound and the Elder, created for the artist’s larger series Queens in Exile, produced from 2014 to 2017. The series explores themes related to history, memory, colonialism, apartheid, and cultural healing. The artwork uses symbolism and references to create a narrative that reflects on the experiences of Black South Africans, particularly in the context of apartheid and its aftermath. The characters and elements in the artwork are used to highlight the importance of remembrance, both as a means of acknowledging historical pain and as a way to pave the path for a more inclusive and vibrant future for Black and queer communities.

Provenance

WHATIFTHEWORLD, Cape Town, 2019.

Private Collection.

Exhibited

WHATIFTHEWORLD, Queens in Exile, Solo Exhibition, 29 November 2017 to 7 February 2018.

1-54 London Contemporary African Art Fair, Somerset House, Athi-Patra Ruga: Of Gods, Rainbows and Omissions, 4 October 2018 to 6 January 2019.