'PRECIOUS CIRCLE'
1989
In 1989, the accumulation of negative events publicized in the South African daily Press, reached a critical mass as we all got caught up in a vicious cycle. I could no longer tolerate the horror and brutality that society had sunk into. I felt vulnerable and despondent and concerned about the future of our country and survival of my 4 young children.
Besides the physical injury inflicted and many instances of untimely death, my concern was the daily spiritual and emotional scarring. Confronted with the disturbing reality surrounding us and the future beckoning grimly, the most appropriate solution seemed for us to emigrate. My husband was not in agreement with me and totally disillusioned, I had to return to the drawing board to re-invent our future. A born ‘problem solver’, I immediately started asking questions, hoping to find illuminating answers.
I realized that my discomfort was flamed by the Media who fed us our daily dose of poison. The accumulation of this negativity, eroded our souls, transforming us into thinking, acting and living like Zombies. We were becoming like the living dead. It is intrinsic to my nature to try and salvage something from even the most sombre scenarios, by discovering the positive aspects to it.
Resolving to make the enemy my friend, I scrutinized the newspapers, searching for traces of positivity, which I found. I blamed myself for having focussed only on the negative. This was when I conceived the idea of PRECIOUS CIRCLE which was in direct contrast to the vicious circle. From then on, instead of criticizing what I read in the Press, or allowing it to influence my psyche, I would take responsibility for what I focussed on as well as my thoughts.
My philosophy was that my new, positive THOUGHTS would influence my actions and following that, my ACTIONS would influence SOCIETY. This idea, multiplied, could change the fabric of society as we know it! Daily I became more passionate and energized as I realised the tremendous and far- reaching potential of PRECIOUS CIRCLE and the power it could harness, if implemented on a global scale!
I performed my ritual exercise every single day, collecting positive headlines from SA newspapers and magazines. Eventually the words were sorted into different categories and from these, aesthetic collages were created from the clippings, each portraying a different inspirational theme, such as happiness, love, hope, winning, beauty, dreams, religion, moral values and peace.
With superhuman resolve, I dedicated myself to this project. My loved ones frequently asked me how long I intended cutting and pasting newsprint and I always replied ,as long as it takes and until I received a bold sign to stop.
When I started the project, events were unpredictable and no one knew with certainty, what the future would eventually hold. At this stage, Nelson Mandela was still in jail. Although I had no idea where the project was heading, I had absolute faith in its power to transform and attract, as I was gradually becoming aware of unexpected and increasing miracles that were manifesting in my life. One of which was an unexpected invitation to present a retrospective exhibition at Schloss Ettlingen, in Germany, 1991.
I felt as though I was positively magnetizing myself. PRECIOUS CIRCLE became my personal contribution to finding sparks of hope, by literally reading between the lines. Sometimes, on days when the Press was excessively negative, I would take a negative word such as unlucky or unhappy and then out of sheer desperation, triumphantly cut off the UN and preserve the HAPPY!
PRECIOUS CIRCLE documents the hopes, dreams and aspirations of a whole society caught up in a process of inevitable change, during a crucial time in South African history. Although PRECIOUS CIRCLE has a timeless and universal message, it is vital to contemporary history. Its power lies in its simplicity.
I soon realized the potential of the process and that it could also be used by others as a tool of healing and empowerment. Illiterate people and young children could create a collage entirely with HAPPY images. A strong sense of colour and balance marks each of the thought provoking collages of which the end result reminds one of a carefully constructed puzzle, where the smaller parts fit together perfectly.
The events of May 10, 1994, Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as President, became the signal that the project had been miraculously completed. The media broadcast the euphoria and so, in more than one respect, events had come Full Circle! The headlines of 10 and 11 May resulted in the creation of the final, 50th collage! When placed side by side, PRECIOUS CIRCLE spans a monumental 22 meters!
During June and July of 1994, I held an unusual dual exhibit at the Pretoria Art Museum. The one part consisted of PRECIOUS CIRCLE, and the 2nd exhibit was titled DRAWING ATTENTION TO TRANSFORMATION AND REGENERATION, works on paper reflecting the internal and external process of change experienced in South Africa.
REBIRTH, which symbolizes the reconciliation of opposing forces, was included in this series. I entered a competition endorsed by the United Nations.. On hearing that Pres. Mandela was appointed as the final judge, I wanted to withdraw REBIRTH but was persuaded not to. I had mixed feelings on hearing that REBIRTH was the winning piece. However, after been told that Pres. Mandela had developed a serious eye condition on the day of the final judging, and that he had requested Prof Jake Gerwell to act as judge on his behalf, and who then chose REBIRTH as the winning work, which miraculously propelled me into joining the ranks of Dali, Chagall, Miro, Warhol etc. some of the previous contributors, I realized that it was out of my hands and that what had transpired, was miraculous!
From this experience I have learned that luck is when being prepared, meets with opportunity. PRECIOUS CIRCLE was the instrument that broke the traditional mould!
