Two "Ship" Models
Item
Artwork Title
Two "Ship" Models
Artist
Art Form
Sculpture
Art Medium
Wood
Description
Matchstick
Artwork Measurement (cm)
58 x 54; 68 x 65; 57 x 60
Label Information
The Centre for African Studies acquired two of the boats made by the Upington Trialists after a number of them had been exhibited in the CAS gallery in May 1989. One is on permanent display between the CAS and the Kaplan Centre next door. In March 2011 it was made available to the Upington Museum for permanent display by the VC. Using around 14000 matchsticks, this boat is a product of countless hours of painstaking, laborious work. They are testimony to the human spirit, perseverance and fellowship. Working in a team, certain members would be allocated specific tasks from cutting the cardboard, burning the matches, applying the glue, assembling the boat etc. As Bekebeke stated, they provided the inmates with a purpose – and were a way of “selling (their) love to people”. The ‘Upington 26’ appreciated all those who supported them by showing solidarity and encouragement, especially during a time when it was a risk to do so. Bekebeke related that he specifically chose to construct boats since they held significant symbolic meaning to him; a sign of freedom, he hoped to one day ‘sail’ out of prison. In more recent times, he sees them as holding another pertinent meaning – a metaphor for the transition South Africa is currently going through: “symbolising … the transition from where we were to where we are going”.
Acquisition Type
Purchased
Building
Date Acquired
1989
Provenance Notes
2004: April 2004 matchstick ship model no 3 with ladders on loan to Iziko Museums CT for Democracy X exhibition.2011: One model given on permanent loan to Upington Museum in March 2011 by VC.
Rights Holder
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Please contact us if you are the owner of the image rights so that we add the correct credit or if the database record reflects incorrect information.
