Bronze
Edition 3
290mm high x 290mm wide x 160mm deep
2013

I made this sculpture to be part of the permanent collection of art at the Bloemfontein War Museum. The exhibition is called Universal suffering paying tribute to the women and children in the south African war between 1899 -1902. Approximately 70 artists contributed works to the exhibition, which can be seen at the museum in Bloemfontein. To find out more about the museum click this link - www.anglo-boer.co.za

I looked at the old pictures of the women and children sitting around the dusty and uncomfortable tented environments, imagining myself amongst them. There are different characters, old and young women, insecure children, the hats the women wore, how their hair was tied and the tents they lived in and so many other aspects which define this time in our South African History. Together, unified by their dresses, I have depicted them as one voice, like a choir, singing a reminder that this should never happen again. Together they stand as an icon of courage and unity, not only among women but also through the generations, led by the children.

The back of the sculpture shows an empty tent, a place where the viewer can stop and think, fill in the empty space for themselves. I sit in that space and wonder how can humans do this to other humans? How could they not have been able to imagine how they would feel if put in a similar position, or if it were their own mother or child put there to struggle?