Tuesday 1 December 2015

Nelson Mandela prints



The Times described one of the Nelson Mandela prints, Hand of Africa as ‘The Man with Africa in the Palm of his Hands’ – and they were not wrong. Nelson Mandela, throughout his life, had his country in his heart and through his artwork, produced whilst in his 80’s, he showed us his love for his country. In the Mandela print called ‘Mandela’s Walk’ Nelson Mandela speaks of the guard tower that is seen in the image. 

He tells us in the Artist Motivation that the guard tower marked the corner of the Robben Island prison compound. He says that the prisoners on Robben Island were forced to work the quarries for thirteen years as a part of their ‘hard labour’ sentence. He tell us that is was incredibly hard work but that they didn’t mind as it enabled them to leave the prison compound and have a small amount of freedom to walk and talk together on the long road leading to the quarry. He calls them ‘invigorating times’. In this particular lithograph, he describes the prisoners of the Island feeling the wind in their faces, seeing the birds flying in freedom and smelling the blossoms.

In this Mandela print, which is one of the very interesting pieces of Mandela Art launched by Belgravia Gallery, Nelson Mandela says:

“After a day of relative “freedom” the tower was a grim reminder as we returned to the prison each evening. Conversation between us would usually become less and less as we approached the tower.

The tower reminded us of exactly where we were and where we had expected to stay of the rest of our lives. How little we guessed at the great changes that would sweep our country in our lifetime…that in my lifetime I would exchange these prison walls for freedom, not just my freedom, but the freedom of all my country’s people, a freedom which has become a symbol for all.”

Nelson Mandela lithographs and Mandela Prints, Mandela’s Walk, is available through Belgravia Gallery. For more information visit www.belgraviagallery.com or call 020 7495 1010

Friday 27 November 2015

Mandela lithographs



In 2003 Nelson Mandela attended the launch of his lithographs on Robben Island. Over 200 people attended and a dinner was hosted in the former games room of the prison. Guests were invited to view the Mandela lithographs on Robben Island, which had once been home to those who spoke out against apartheid. 

During the event Gallery Director Anna Hunter spoke about the Mandela lithographs and how well they had been received around the world, and Nelson Mandela also spoke about his art including the Hand of Africa and all of the Nelson Mandela Art he had created. Here is his speech from that evening:

“I was born in the Eastern Cape. It is a very beautiful part of our land. It is rich in vegetation and in folklore.

As a small child I stood on the outer edges of the evening campfire on more nights than I can remember. I listened many times to the stories of the tribal elders. There would be long silences in between. They spoke of our ancestors. They spoke of a land of plenty, of fat cattle and of grain in abundance. They also spoke of hardship and drought. They spoke of wars and poverty that wars cause. Many of these wars were started by those who felt greed and the need to enrich themselves. Some simply started wars because madness has touched them. 

As I listened to them, images of colour were conjured up in my mind.

As I looked up into the clear, crisp, night sky I saw millions of stars. I wondered how they shone. I did not know that the largest of them all was simply reflecting the light of the closest star. As the moon moved across the dark sky, it changed colour from silver to a bright red as it reached the horizon. It was a beautiful sight.

As a young shepherd, I looked after cattle and sheep. There was time to reflect and to enjoy colour. I watched in wonder at the sight of the rainbow. I understood little of how a tiny raindrop could reflect such a beautiful range of colours. I experienced the very rich colours of nature through the four seasons.
I travelled through the rich countryside of the Eastern Cape between different villages and towns and enjoyed the rich tapestry of colour that is so special in that area of South Africa. I return to it whenever I can. Sadly, it is not as often as I would like to return. I am not being allowed to retire.

Some of you may remember that I left the countryside to retain my bachelorhood.

The experience of my young adulthood in the big city was very different. Colour was no longer the natural colour of the countryside. The colour of the city was robust, vibrant and explosive. It was very different to that colour that I experienced in the gently countryside. I loved this new experience. 

Then came the wasted prison years. A great hood descended over my eyes. Grey became a primary and paramount colour. The paint on the interior walls and the gates and the cell doors were grey. The outside walls had grey slate. The watchtowers were grey. Even the roads which we built with a mixture of lime and crushed seashells were grey in colour. White appeared as a relief.

The prison clothing was a dull khaki. Even the prison guards wore khaki. Even Table Mountain, a symbol of freedom for us, was grey in the distance. Exposure to the other colours was limited and very brief.

For a little while, at Pollsmoor prison, I was allowed to grow vegetables. When tomatoes turn red from their early green, it became a special colour in a grey environment. It was the same rich experience when I saw my first banana in 20 years. It was yellow in colour.

Twenty seven long years it took with an occasional glimpse of the vibrancy of colour which enriches the lives of all normal sighted persons. It makes it especially poignant for those who have limited vision or no vision at all.

Then came freedom and the lifting of the dark hood from my eyes. It was not merely the miracle of freedom but it was the miracle which I experienced of a person who had regained the power of sight. I could not get enough of looking at, feeling, touching and experiencing this new recovery of the experience of colour.

When it came to recreating visions of Robben Island, I needed to share this rich experience of colour which to me has a very special meaning. 

When I initially did the sketches in black chalk, the images looked quite bleak.

I then thought that it should be a celebration and introduced the bright and cheery colours which I understand has become a new art form and I hope that it will give you as much pleasure as I have had in creating these images.

I thank you.

Nelson Mandela, 7th February 2002
Robben Island
Launch of Mandela lithographs, Mandela Hand Print and Nelson Mandela Art

Wednesday 29 July 2015

Belgravia Gallery Presents

Belgravia Gallery


Belgravia Gallery is known for respresenting very well known artists such as Prince Charles, Nelson Mandela and Susan Swartz. Among those famous artists, there are outlets for Belgravia to advertise their charity events, fundraisers and more.

Twitter

  • Belgravia Gallery showcases their work not only on their website, but on Twitter where they can interact with their client base too.

ArtNet

  • ArtNet houses a plethora of artistry from various galleries including Belgravia Gallery. Most work on Belgravia home page can also be found on ArtNet.

Susan Swartz

  • Susan is an american artist best known for her distinctive style and use of potent colours and richly layered abstract paintings

Original Prints

  • Original Prints is similar to ArtNet in that you can use it to locate original and limited edition prints.

Wednesday 8 July 2015

Belgravia at Home

Belgravia Gallery

Belgravia Mandela

Last Wednesday 1st July saw our launch for our new series of private viewings - Belgravia at Home. The event exhibited a vast range of work from our representing artists and collection which were brought to life in a home setting. Our launch was very successful with over 60 patrons coming out in support of our new venture, especially in such sweltering heat, and it couldn't be denied that the pieces 'popped' in the beautiful furnishings and the bright sunlit rooms of our South Hampstead home! We're very excited for our next Belgravia at Home scheduled for next autumn where we'll be showing even more new and innovative work.
We served tea and coffee in the morning – though on the hottest day of the year, most preferred elderflower cordial and cold water.  We also served champagne and canapés in the evening.  I’ve attached an image as well.