Playing cards of the Truth Commission

1999, A portfolio of 13 portraits, Mezzotint with drypoint and monotype

In this series, I used accurate renditions of the portraits of twelve apartheid perpetrators as ‘monsters of evil’, again using aquatint mezzotint, a technique I use as a metaphor for finding the light from the darkness, a search for discovering their humanity. I struggled to reconcile the brutality in the testimonies of the victims with the denials of their perpetrators.

I added layers onto the images, first tinting them with a toxic colour, and then aggressively scratching and scribbling over the finely worked surfaces with a sharp tool, and another layer was added to the delicately worked portraits with fragments of texts from their victims. The process represented my attempt to seek my own reconciliation with the TRC and attempt to let go of the bitterness.

Playing Cards of the Truth Commission, 1999, A portfolio of 13 portraits, Mezzotint with drypoint and monotype
Playing Cards of the Truth Commission, 1999, A portfolio of 13 portraits, Mezzotint with drypoint and monotype
A textured, pinkish background with black scribbles and a typed quote about human cruelty and justice, attributed to Angie Krogs, Courtney M. Skull.
A portrait of a man with a somber expression on a dark background, overlaid with random, colorful scribbles and lines. There is a quote at the bottom that reads, 'When we heard that Nana was dead - we had a cup of tea to celebrate. Then we went out s
Abstract artwork of a person's face drawn in soft pastel colors on a black background, overlaid with handwritten notes and sketches in red, blue, and white chalk, titled "Three of Spades."
An artwork of a person's face with glasses, drawn with chalk or pastels, with a shot shaped like a mushroom cloud overlaying the face. There is text beneath the drawing describing the effects of shivers and a reference to the atom bomb.
A chalk drawing of Bernie Sanders wearing glasses, with visible facial lines and partial handwritten text overlay.
A black and white portrait of a man with short hair and a beard, with colorful scribbles and blue text overlayed on the image, creating an abstract and artistic effect.
A dark, abstract portrait of a person's face with sketchy lines, scribbles, and red writing overlaid on the image.
A dark artwork featuring a portrait of a woman with a serious expression, visible wrinkles, and short hair, with overlaid text and white scratch marks.
A chalk drawing of a woman's face with glasses, depicted with soft, blended shading on a black background. Overlaid with handwritten red, yellow, and white text expressing gratitude and emotional reflection, and a small blue spade symbol in the top r
A detailed drawing of a person's face with handwritten text and lines passing over it, creating a layered effect.
A chalk drawing featuring a dark-skinned man with a serious expression, holding a skull, with faint pubic hair visible on his chest. The drawing includes some white and blue scratch marks and faint red text overlay.
A chalk drawing of a child's face on blackboard with text overlaid. The text reads: 'No one is to blame your honour' in blue, and 'They also didn't speak of 'killing' but used euphemistic phrases like 'to remove obstructions' and to
A dark, abstract portrait of a woman wearing glasses with the words 'Yes, I shot him twice in the head' written in red across the image.
A chalk drawing of a person's face wearing glasses, with scribbles and lines across the face, and a quote at the bottom that reads, "I've said many times that the word 'Apartheid' means..."
A worn, weathered document titled "Black of Spades: An Incomplete Deck" listing names and descriptions of various individuals, some associated with government, military, or security roles, with black spade symbols next to each entry, on a pinkish bac