30 June, 2011 – The Nelson Mandela Foundation is saddened to learn of the death of painter and activist Ronald Harrison.
Harrison is most famous for his 1962 painting “The Black Christ”, which depicted Chief Albert Luthuli on the cross. The apartheid regime banned the painting, but Harrison smuggled it out of the country and used it to raise funds for anti-apartheid work. Harrison paid for his defiance dearly. He was detained by the security police and severely tortured.
In 2007, Harrison contributed a series of paintings to the Foundation exhibition Making Peace, the launch of which was attended by Nelson Mandela. At the launch Harrison said, “There have been two great moments in my life – in 1962 when I spoke with Chief Luthuli for about two hours, and today with Madiba. Now I can die and go to heaven.”
Uncle Ronnie will be sorely missed.