My attempt in drawing the portrait of the late Gerard Sekoto, borrowing from a photo taken in his younger days, is as depicted above. This exercise was my way of conveying gratitude to him for being one of the pioneers of art in South Africa and for creating such beautiful work. The words below are directed at his spirit which I believe is keeping a watchful eye over the land of his birth:
Gerard, know that in spite leaving South African during your prime, your achievements as the child of this soil stand eminently. I admire your courage and endurance in dealing with being away for so many years. Those who know say such circumstances break people’s spirits.
I remember reading about your troubles in Paris when you first got there. You were said to be very lonely and homesick. Dr Wally Serote, your cousin whose contribution to this world is also incredible, made me laugh greatly in one documentary I watched when he said you would often ask him about African women when he visited you in France, a clear indication that you had missed Africa. Alone with a few friends for company in a foreign land, you managed to hold on to your artistic tool and its language even though the Parisian influence was around you, threatening to envelope you into the European culture. Instead of losing your heritage, you continued splashing your canvases with the ever bright and rich colours albeit having experimented with other styles whose colours were not what you had been reflecting before your Paris’ era. These are colours which kept your paintings colourful and intense with emotions. Your language was profound.
If I were in your shoes, I may have possibly been broken by the feeling of nostalgia and homesickness. But you did not break. Contrary, you made the best of your circumstances and that is survival, at least one element of it. It comes in many forms, this survival business we adopt trying to make sense of life in the face of terrible realities.
It is mentioned that when Biko died you were badly affected by his passing that you struggled to paint at times. Perhaps you knew of the amount of hope he carried bravely on his shoulders in perilous and treacherous circumstances. You being his senior, one thinks about the belief you may have had in such an intelligent and assertive life Biko was – may his awesome soul rest in peace.
Ntatemoholo Gerard, as I should call you, let your spirit I'm addressing read these words out loud for those on the other side to hear of your times and contribution. Let them give a toast in your honour. For the living, those who may not quite know about the role you played, guide them to your life through the biography written by Professor Chabani Manganyi called ‘I Am an African: The Life and Times of Gerard Sekoto.’ You have paved the way for many in the arts (it is known just how diverse the artists world is), thus I express appreciation for your role in that I appreciate the value of expression in every artistic form i.e. writing, photography, music, painting, etcetera.
I had embraced the need to write that I had been sharpening to this day. I wish to do the same for drawing and painting. Something had chased my creative pulse on this front away into the air. But I will look for it and find it as easily as the air we breathe. And once found, I will immerse myself in painting and drawing like I had done in the past.
Prohibit your spirit from staying away from those who need to better the arts. Inspire them through and let them amplify the role of the arts. Perhaps artists should become cabinet members, maybe the entire government system. Yes, the entire government system should be made up of all artists singing, painting and creating masterpieces all the way to social commentary that we so earnestly need; that stability and direction that will perhaps be better than any time of government.
Deon Simphiwe Skade (C)
Apr 2010
