Substance of Shadows-Paul Emmanuel-South Africa.
Diversity Art Forum are pleased to be involved in the revised video production of Rising- Falling by Paul Emmanuel and his solo exhibition Substance of Shadows at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery in South Africa.
Paul Emmanuel states that,"Rising- falling extends my interest in how a society remembers its history and how changes in this memory can result in a dismembering of identity. This monument, created by South African sculptor Coert Steynberg and unveiled in 1946, consists of an equestrian statue of Louis Botha. Botha was a Boer war hero during the South African War (between Boer and British). He became the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa (a British Dominion) during WWI, sent troops to annex German South West Africa (now Namibia), and was a co-signatory of the Treaty of Versailles. What makes the valourisation of his image important in my work is that he was prime minister at a time when black WWI soldiers (fighting alongside Britain in order to gain its support to overturn the 1913 Land Act), were not allowed to carry weapons and were denied recognition or valourisation of any sort for their efforts in the war. The monument currently occupies centre stage in the gardens at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South Africa. The Union Buildings are the seat of political and administrative power in the country.
For more information about the exhibition click on Substance and Shadows and Moving Cube.
Laititudes and Paul Emmanuel.
Paul Emmanuel's Instagram Talk-1 and Paul Emmanuel's Instagram Talk-2. Substance of Shadows 3D Online Exhibition.
Images photographed by Charl Fraser and copyright by Paul Emmanuel 2021.
