
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Umsebenzi Wothando (Labour of love), 2023
Beads
120 x 92 cm
Copyright The Artist
The artwork portrays an African child who carries a round object, that appears to resemble the sky. The child looks numb from the pain of working for a long time....
The artwork portrays an African child who carries a round object, that appears to resemble the sky. The child looks numb from the pain of working for a long time. The narrative speaks of the exploitation of children whom are working in mines. These child- workers in a mine are tasked with digging up rare and precious minerals that are used in the construction (the city sky scrapers). The child’s face shows the exhaustion and weariness that comes from long hours of labor and the burden of carrying such a heavy load. However, determination and resilience shine through, as the child continues to work tirelessly to assist in providing for their family and community.