Leopold and Mobutu series. Memorial to slaves who built the railway between Matadi and Kinshasa during Mobutu era
Item
Artwork Title
Leopold and Mobutu series. Memorial to slaves who built the railway between Matadi and Kinshasa during Mobutu era
Artist
Art Form
Photograph
Artwork Measurement (cm)
47 x 73
Date
2003
Label Information
Sometimes it is what is absent from the frame that then begins to speak louder than what is contained within, such as this memorial featured in this image that pays homage to the slaves living in the time of President Mobuto. Built up from many trips to the Democratic Republic of Congo, this series touches on parallels between the brutal tyrannical reigns of both the contemporary leader and the Belgian King Leopold II.
Guy Tillim began his training in photojournalism, but has made a seamless transition to the realm of fine art. This distinction sees the focus of his lens centred away from the obvious moments that would dominate a front page (the event) to the far more subtle and nuanced instances that bind these news making episodes. It is said that Tillim’s images use their own unique language to communicate that is finding a balance between being the social document and art object. Thematically he explores the colonial legacy within the complex African context, also mindful of contemporary conflicts and social issues that haunt the formerly dark continent. His work has been widely exhibited and he was recipient of the prestigious international DaimlerChysler Contemporary Award in 2004.
Guy Tillim began his training in photojournalism, but has made a seamless transition to the realm of fine art. This distinction sees the focus of his lens centred away from the obvious moments that would dominate a front page (the event) to the far more subtle and nuanced instances that bind these news making episodes. It is said that Tillim’s images use their own unique language to communicate that is finding a balance between being the social document and art object. Thematically he explores the colonial legacy within the complex African context, also mindful of contemporary conflicts and social issues that haunt the formerly dark continent. His work has been widely exhibited and he was recipient of the prestigious international DaimlerChysler Contemporary Award in 2004.
Acquisition Type
Loan
Building
Date Acquired
2006
Rights Holder
The UCT Works of Art Database deliberately only shows low resolution images to prevent infringement of image rights. In making the Works of Art Collection available in a public database UCT operates in good faith and will remove any images where the owner of the image rights requests us to do so.
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.
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.
