BORN IN SOWETO by
Ramarutha Makoba
On June 16 1976, students marched peacefully through Soweto to Orlando stadium, to demonstrate against the Apartheid Government’s directive that Afrikaans be used as a medium in schools. Along the way they were met by the police who fired teargas and later live ammunition killing many of them. This resulted in a widespread revolt, starting in Soweto and spreading to the rest of South Africa.
The Soweto uprising made a lasting impression on the artist Ramarutha Makoba, who also grew up and went to school in Soweto.
Ramarutha’s newest work, currently on exhibition at Gallery 2, serves to commemorate that tragic event and the huge sacrifices a generation of children made, while also telling the story of his own life as a student growing up on the gritty streets of Soweto.
As an art teacher in Soweto, he encourages his students to work hard, to use their opportunities and hopes that his work will remind them of those who sacrificed so much for them to have equal education and the prospect of a brighter future.
Bohlokwa ba thuto, Acrylic, charcoal and pastel on Fabriano paper, 150 x 100cm, 2020
Ketswa Sekolong, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano, 150 x 100cm, 2020
Retswa sekolong, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on paper, 150 x 100cm, 2020
Segopotso sa Hector Pieterson I, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano paper, 150 x 80cm, 2020
Segopotso sa Hector Pieterson II, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano paper, 150 x 90cm, 2020
Segopotso sa Hector Pieterson III, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano paper, 150 x 68cm, 2020
Segopotso sa Hector Pieterson IIII, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano paper, 150 x 78cm, 2020
Thuto ke tswelopele I, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano, 150 x 100cm, 2020
Thuto ke tswelopele II, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on canvas, 150 x 110cm, 2020
Thuto ke tswelopele III, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano, 150 x 98cm, 2020
Thuto ke tswelopele IIII, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano, 150 x 98cm, 2020
Tsebo ke matla, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels on Fabriano paper, 150 x 100cm, 2020
Tsela ya thuto, Acrylic, charcoal and pastels, 140 x 100cm, 2020
Bomma ba ya Mosomong I, Mixed media and silkscreen, 140 x 100cm, Edition of 10
Make Us One, Mixed media and silkscreen, 140 x 100 cm, Edition of 10
Mama Rena I, Mixed media and silkscreen, 140 x 100 cm, Edition of 10
Bosesi ba ya mosomong II, Mixed media and silkscreen, 140 x 100 cm, Edition of 10
Nelson Rholihlaha Mandela 1991- 1997, silkscreen, 50 x 35cm, Ed of 100
Oliver Thambo 1976 - 1991, silkscreen, 50 x 35cm, Ed of 100
Thabo Mbeki 1997 - 2007, silkscreen, 50 x 35cm, Ed of 100
Desmond Tutu, silkscreen, 50 x 35cm, Ed of 16
Hugh Masekela, silkscreen, 50 x 35cm, Ed of 16
Antoinette Sithole, silkscreen, 50 x 35cm, Ed of 16
Brenda Fassie, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
David Koloane, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Joseph Shabalala, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Lucky Doobie, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Miriam Makeba, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Richard Maponya, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Sipho Hotstit Mabuse, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Siya Kolisi, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Steve Biko, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
Winnie Mandela, silkscreen, 35 x 50cm, Ed of 16
142 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood | info@gallery2.co.za | +27 (0)83 457 4851, (011) 447 0155/98 | www.gallery2.co.za