The republic of attention prevention

The Republic of Attention Prevention art series

“Their assailants used a spanner and a whip to torture them. In an ordeal lasting hours, they then burnt their female victim with a hot iron and cut off her hair with a knife.” IOL, 2021

“There are no killings of farmers or white farmers in South Africa.” Ramaphosa, 2021

Farm attacks in South Africa is a delicate subject, when brought up it is often accompanied with friction and controversy.  This series of artworks captures my experiences and understanding about the fragility, censoring and severity of the above mentioned. I approached the task at hand with bearing in mind to make use of alternative materials as I possibly could. Through development, and all the trials and errors that come with it, I managed to utilize soil (mud) and mielie plants into usable art mediums. These mediums are symbols of agriculture and therefore using them as materials are so becoming- the artwork embodies the subject matter of farm life and the concern for possible food security depletion. Additionally, I used ink as a traditional medium in various techniques to portray various perspectives of farm attacks and the censoring thereof. I have found that censoring of farm attacks can be subtle, yet so blatant- farm attacks are given news coverage because of its brutal nature, not because it’s being recognised as an issue that needs to be addressed. After the countless documentaries and news coverages I have watched regarding farm attacks, I have realised that families are being torn apart and there is a massive divide between farmers, the attackers, and the justice system. There is an increasing attitude of mistrust and marginalisation. Ultimately these works portray my perspective: all violence should be condemned; farm attacks should not be tolerated- farmers are South African and farm attacks form part of the crime statistics, it should be acknowledged as such. 

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