I have had this painting since 1994 and it was done by a local artist in the community where I originate from. Now why this one, there is a particular message in this painting – especially the eyes of the mother, the father and the child. The eyes are very expressive. And when I look at the painting, what I see: I see uncertainty and I see fear but what I also see is a unit – a family unit. They are sort of united and what was interesting for me is the fact that the woman is the one on top. If you look at it, the woman is holding the father and the child. And for me, that maybe was the artist’s way of acknowledging the strength of women. Or I think this is maybe from his own life because I know he has a wife and children. We used to go visit them a lot. But for me that was some acknowledgement of the role of the woman in the family. And I’ve moved around a lot now and wherever I go, this painting goes with me. It’s in my bedroom. It’s on my bedroom wall and for me it’s like a reminder of where I’m coming from. It’s my link to where I’m coming from, no matter where I go. So that is why this painting is important. I think maybe other people will say it’s an ugly painting but for me, it says a lot. There’s a very deep message in the painting for me. So that’s why I chose this particular artefact.
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